The map on Oct 21 was
And look at the situation today -
If the Ukrainians had "negotiated" on 21st October, then Kherson would still be in Russian hands and leave it open for a spring offensive all the way to Odessa
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The problem with any kind of "negotiating peace" as long as Russian troops are on Ukrainian territory is like you, cuban leaf, negotiating with house squatters who occupy your living room and entrance corridor --> you have pushed them out of the kitchen and dining room and the stairs, and are in the process of pushing them out further when they say "let's negotiate peace"
You don't negotiate with people who have invaded your home and want to grab more and more of it. This would not be a negotiation but a "give the invaders breathing room to come back and take more"
The problem is that the squatters actually are more powerful than you, and they are burning your house to the ground and killing your family. And the cold weather is just beginning.
We’ll see how it goes the next few months.
My biggest concern is that the US gets dragged into this thing. Shades of WW I.