[BobL]

“So the Ukies can start shelling the ethnic Russians in the Donbass provinces all over again? The Donbass declared their Independence from Ukraine in 2014/15, a major factor in this regional conflict.”

Unless Russia is able to trust Ukraine, Russia will need to control a Ukrainian buffer zone west of Donbas, just to prevent renewed shelling of Russian areas. Similar to what Israel had in Southern Lebanon (and should have kept).

[mac_truck]

Russia will need to control a Ukrainian buffer zone west of Donbas, just to prevent renewed shelling of Russian areas.

This map has been floating around...there's something for everyone. 😀

[NorseViking]

I think Ukraine had a chance to stay a country until the failure of Istanbul talks. Before that they routinely violated the Minsk agreement, but there was no exposure. Here the talks took place before the whole world and they immediately violated the obligation and also used ceasefire to mount attacks. It’s one thing for the media reporting, but the Russians are seeing what’s going on. They won’t ever trust the Kiev regime hence no agreement is going to be reached until Ukrainian capitulation.