I missed this, from the NY Times last December. It says Russia is willing to do an armistice at current lines. If so, that's good news. It further reinforces my belief that Putin never expected much Ukrainian resistance, he has been repeatedly humiliated and already regrets the "SMO". He is looking for a way out. Given the stalemate of the current fighting, and it's cost in lives for very little if any gain, I think the U.S. and Ukraine should agree.
The continuation of the war is a fiscal and humanitarian disaster, most of all for Ukraine, which desperately needs a chance to rebuild. It is losing an entire generation of young men on top of already dire demographic problems. It cannot hold elections. It's economy is stuck in war mode. Unless you're literally Palantir/Lockheed Martin or someone who actively relishes the deaths of Ukrainians and Russians, or a pro-Russian who wants Russia to conquer more territory, there is zero benefit to this war anymore. If Russia is willing to do an armistice, we should come to the table.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/23/world/europe/putin-russia-ukraine-war-cease-fire.html
How are they going to withdraw? Because they choose to freely without conditions? That's fantasyland. Because Ukraine will expel them out militarily? That's fantasyland as well for different reasons unless a few things drastically change.
Again, our public goals for this war of complete Russian withdrawal are completely out of step with the current state of war. Since they retook Kherson, Ukrainian offensives have effectively accomplished nothing.
