[silverleaf]

Yes

In Ukraines case, who drew the political borders and what were they thinking?

That the hard core UKR nationalists and racial supremacists that allied with the WW2 Nazis would live harmoniously with a 1/3 Russophile population in a multi-ethnic multicultural state?

[nathanbedford]

rxh4n1: That is not Ukraine’s goal. They’ve loudly proclaimed they want all the stolen lands back, including the Crimea. So far, Ukraine has been unwilling to make territorial concessions. To achieve their maximalist goals will require a major expansion of the war.

Well of course the question posed assumes that there was an agreement by the terms of which Ukraine accepts a geography less than its original borders.

So, what is the answer?

I point out that any negotiator with only an elementary level of negotiating skill would make maximum demands at the beginning of negotiations. To concede the opponent's position at the beginning is to negotiate against oneself - the amateur mistake of negotiation that has already been made by Donald Trump when he conceded virtually all the demands of Putin and then compounded his unsolicited error by attempting to enforce it upon Ukraine when be humiliated Zelinski in the Oval Office.

It is beyond me to understand how an unwillingness to concede proprietorship of one's own stolen land in a war is a "maximalist goal" or how continuing to defend one's borders requires a "major expansion" of a war.

But, whatever your quibbles, what is your answer?

Captain Walker: it's bad for the Ukraine to get in a security alliance with NATO where NATO can put arms close to Russia.

I am curious whether you think it good or bad for Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, as members of NATO, to have arms close to Russia?

Silverleaf:

Yes

I assume your answer is yes but let them stew in their own juices.

Okay.