[GK3]

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/moscow-..._permalink

According to that proposal, which Lavrov erroneously described as approved by Kyiv at the time, Russia would have a veto power over any action by the other guarantors of Ukrainian security—making those assurances pointless. On Wednesday, Lavrov said China should also have equal powers in these guarantees.

And there it is; Russia essentially insisting on a veto over Western security guarantees, which is ridiculous at its face.  As I surmised earlier, Russia is basically trying to give the illusion that it is willing to negotiate for peace in order to forestall further reaction from the US while not actually negotiating.  Sadly, it seems like the strategy has been effective to date.

BC

Indeed. The administration has a chance to force Putin to compromise. To do that they would have to make nice we with India and other importers of Russian oil. This administration doesn't know how to create win-win situations. Therefore they will do nothing.

Couldn't agree more.  Not much more I am willing to say on this subject.

But going back to the head count of the Russian Military I think it is safe to say the Russian army is not well trained. That fact reduces their potential threat.  Russia has lost over 1,000,000 men since the war started.  The more Russians the Ukrainians can kill the better.  At some point, and one that is probably very hard to see from a distance, the losses will cause internal issues within Russia, similar to their ill fated trip to Afghanistan many years ago.  If Ukraine can continue to bring the war home to Russians in Russia via long range drone attacks, more pressure will be created that Putin will have to deal with. 
Russia also has to replace or at least try to replace its lost hardware. Much is made of their armor loses, but I am beginning to wonder if that makes any difference at all.  Tanks are an image of another age and another style of war, my guess is most become small caliber artillery pieces. 
In the end you can't evade General Patton's famous statement regarding making the other poor bastard die for his country. However they do it, the Ukrainian forces simply need to focus on inflicting as many casualties as possible and by whatever means. I still think the economic pressures will continue to grow and force some kind of solution.  I hope.

[GK3]

https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/moscow-..._permalink

According to that proposal, which Lavrov erroneously described as approved by Kyiv at the time, Russia would have a veto power over any action by the other guarantors of Ukrainian security—making those assurances pointless. On Wednesday, Lavrov said China should also have equal powers in these guarantees.

And there it is; Russia essentially insisting on a veto over Western security guarantees, which is ridiculous at its face.  As I surmised earlier, Russia is basically trying to give the illusion that it is willing to negotiate for peace in order to forestall further reaction from the US while not actually negotiating.  Sadly, it seems like the strategy has been effective to date.

BC

Indeed. The administration has a chance to force Putin to compromise. To do that they would have to make nice we with India and other importers of Russian oil. This administration doesn't know how to create win-win situations. Therefore they will do nothing.

Couldn't agree more.  Not much more I am willing to say on this subject.

But going back to the head count of the Russian Military I think it is safe to say the Russian army is not well trained. That fact reduces their potential threat.  Russia has lost over 1,000,000 men since the war started.  The more Russians the Ukrainians can kill the better.  At some point, and one that is probably very hard to see from a distance, the losses will cause internal issues within Russia, similar to their ill fated trip to Afghanistan many years ago.  If Ukraine can continue to bring the war home to Russians in Russia via long range drone attacks, more pressure will be created that Putin will have to deal with. 
Russia also has to replace or at least try to replace its lost hardware. Much is made of their armor loses, but I am beginning to wonder if that makes any difference at all.  Tanks are an image of another age and another style of war, my guess is most become small caliber artillery pieces. 
In the end you can't evade General Patton's famous statement regarding making the other poor bastard die for his country. However they do it, the Ukrainian forces simply need to focus on inflicting as many casualties as possible and by whatever means. I still think the economic pressures will continue to grow and force some kind of solution.  I hope.