Why on earth would anyone want to waste time trying to negotiate when there is no change in Putin’s stated objectives. He wants the eastern Ukraine resource areas which have gas, oil, and other resources. He does not want Ukraine to keep them or sell them to Europe in competition with Russian gas and oil. NATO membership is possibly negotiable, but not Ukraines resources.
“Why on earth would anyone want to waste time trying to negotiate when there is no change in Putin’s stated objectives.”
Well said. It’s like trying to negotiate with a bank robber who says, “Give me the money or I’ll shoot you!”
You don’t negotiate with such people.
You kill them.
He wants the eastern Ukraine resource areas which have gas, oil
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Again, there are no oil and gas reserved that are economical to frack in Eastern Ukraine. And what there is, is of poor quality and not much of that, too boot.