[BenLurkin]

Russia claims it only wants Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

Not sure anyone believes that but it would be a logical basis for a peace deal.

[packagingguy]

That’s what Russian officials were saying over two years ago. It’s logical they don’t want to waste resources controlling the non-Russian, western oblasts.

[elpadre]

Yes, that plus a de-nazified, neutral Ukraine with a Russia-friendly government.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Kyiv will never fall. The people will rise up, and chase out Zelensky and his crowd. New Government will take power and call a peace conference in Turkey. Russia gets all it has (and a little more), Ukraine get to keep Odessa. and some free gas for five years. Not join NATO or EU and get some good deals in trade with Russia. Peace after six weeks of talks. No one gets what they want, but it will be over—only question is when? July? August?

[Robert DeLong]

Shortly after Russia launched the invasion. They went into peace talks & Putin was willing to withdraw form all territories except for Crimea which they deem is critical for Russia national security. If Ukraine agreed to reman neutral, to which Zelenskyy agree. Then along came Boris Johnson, and the rest, as they say, is now history. Of course Victoria Nuland was a major driving force behind all of this.

After the terrorist attack, I think that deal is bot even open for discussion anymore. But I do believe that if Ukraine chose to remain neutral, the fighting might come to an end.

[House Atreides]

“ Russia claims it only wants Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.”
********************************************

That was before. Now they’ll have to take all parts of Ukraine that I are within rocket range of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk…. or within rocket range of anywhere in Russia proper. And of course as NATO members keep giving Zelensky new rockets with longer and longer range the amount of firmer Ukrainian lands that need to be taken expands.

Just sayin’.