Quote (bogie160 @ Jan 9 2023 11:58pm)
Ukraine then was a weak country that even the West expected to collapse. Ukraine today is a unified state with a powerful, experienced military. If Ukraine is accepted into NATO, that carries along with it NATO guarantees that weren't present in January/February last year. They would be off limits. The prerequisite for joining NATO, though, is that Ukraine is not at war with Russia. Trading recognition for Crimea and the Donbass seems like a bargain.
If that is true and it doesn't seem impossible, then it's even more motivation to continue fighting.
What you described is like a safety net of NATO membership for conceding Donbas. So why not try and regain more territory. If they can't they take a negotiated deal.
The Donbas and east in general is very valuable territory, and disproportionately valuable in comparison to other western regions. Its really not as simple as saying they could accept Russian control there.
This post was edited by Prox1m1ty on Jan 10 2023 02:16am