This is why both sides should stop fighting NOW.
Negotiate! Ukraine will never get Crimea or the Donbas back. Let Russia have them. Russia will never subjugate the entirety of Ukraine without a bitter, decades long insurgency. Let Russia pay Ukraine to rebuild their infrastructure and power grid. They can “tax” oil and gas sold to Europe for this.
Some say losing the Donbas and Crimea is something the Ukrainians will never accept, except—it’s already done. Wake up, smell the coffee, and stop the murder on both sides. Putin hurt Russia badly with this war, also.
Good post about the reality of the situation. My understanding based on some reading I did yesterday is that Zelensky will need to go before a settlement can be reached. His normal term is set to expire at the end of this month and political forces will push him out this summer. A cease fire and negotiations may, may, begin after that.