Even if Russia takes “only” half of Ukraine, it is still a “win” for Ukraine, considering the original goal was to take all of The Ukraine proper and then absorb Transnistria in Moldova.
If Putin is willing to make a peace deal by not conquering all of Ukraine (and agrees to annex only the Donbass) then this is a very generous deal indeed. I’m sure Russia will also demand that Ukraine can never be part of NATO, else the deal is off.
If Zelinskyy is smart, he will take the deal without hesitation. This give them time to rebuild and live for another day.
“I’m sure Russia will also demand that Ukraine can never be part of NATO, else the deal is off.”
NATO would have to agree to this condition and NATO never will. Russia does not get a vote in who does or does not join NATO.
That was never the Russian goal.
The Russians wanted to liberate ethnic Russian part of Ukraine. They have been perfectly happy if the Minsk Accords or the deal worked out in Turkey in March of 2022 had been implemented.
The Biden regime and neocons wanted this proxy war with Russia and did everything they could to keep it going.
its not Zelensky's decision to make
for all the criticism he receives, the man was first elected overwhelmingly on a platform of implementing the Minsk accords, peace in Donbas and stability with Russia. Either he was completely lying, or (as we have seen) forces in the West made sure that peace was never an option.
Zelensky, like Biden himself, is pretty much a figurehead.
“Even if Russia takes “only” half of Ukraine, it is still a “win” for Ukraine, considering the original goal was to take all of The Ukraine proper and then absorb Transnistria in Moldova.”
False. NATO’s original goal was regime change in RUssia - by overthrowing the Ukraine in 2014 and building a 600K army to get the job done. Putin’s original goal was to drive Zelensky to the negotiating table to discuss biowarfare labs and infringements on NATO agreements. Even Biden refused to let Zelensky negotiate. NATO is using the Ukraine as its proxy in a war to remove Putin and install a NATO puppet.
You said: “I’m sure Russia will also demand that Ukraine can never be part of NATO, else the deal is off.”
I don’t see how Putin would believe what they say because NATO previously agreed never to make Ukraine part of NATO, and here we are. NATO lied last time, I don’t know how Putin expects to get the them to do as they promise this time.