The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim

The proposed Russia-Ukraine peace deal may not be considered a complete loss, nor can it be viewed as a resounding victory. This uneasy equilibrium is what the conflict has become – an in-between outcome that contains elements of both defeat and triumph.

Ukraine's military strength will remain formidable, with little to no constraint imposed by the agreement. In contrast to Russia's draconian restrictions since 2022, Ukraine would be allowed to maintain a peacetime military with relative freedom. Moreover, a substantial security guarantee from the United States and Europe is on offer, marking the strongest such commitment in history.

However, it is clear that this compromise will not sit well with powerful voices in Washington, who would likely deem it unacceptable and immoral. This raises questions about whether the US will continue to prolong the conflict indefinitely, potentially leaving Ukraine worse off than when they started.

This precedent is reminiscent of past conflicts where the US has struggled to accept loss or victory. The inability to let go of ideal solutions often leads to destructive actions. History shows that the US has allowed faltering military campaigns to drag on for years due to a reluctance to accept defeat.

In Vietnam, President Richard Nixon continued to fight despite knowing they could not win, leading to devastating consequences. Similarly, in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama failed to negotiate a power-sharing arrangement, prolonging the conflict and ultimately surrendering to the Taliban.

The US has also struggled to accept its own wins, defying its original objectives to pursue a more extensive goal. This can lead to wasted resources and further complications.

In the context of Ukraine today, it is essential to acknowledge both sides of this mixed verdict. While Ukraine has made tremendous progress but still suffers significant losses, ending the war requires accepting these complexities.

The US-backed government in Kyiv cannot achieve a total battlefield victory, and framing the stakes as absolutist is unrealistic. A compromise settlement would allow Russia to reap strategic gains while giving Ukraine a viable chance at peace and security.

Ukraine's survival depends not on external guarantees but its own resilience and external support it can realistically receive. The US does not need a miracle; misplaced moralism should not dictate its actions in Ukraine.

Ultimately, this conflict has shown that total security is unattainable for any country, and compromise is often the only viable option. By acknowledging both sides of this complex situation, we can work towards finding a solution that honors the achievements made to date while accepting the realities of war.
 
🤔 thinkin they're gonna keep draggin ukraine outta this mess with an empty promise 🤑 doesn't seem like a solid plan to me. history shows us when you hold on too tight, it just ends in more losses 😬 we need to accept that compromise is key here. no clear win or lose for anyone involved 💔
 
I'm kinda torn about this Russia-Ukraine peace deal 🤔. On one hand, it's good that Ukraine gets to maintain some level of military freedom and has a security guarantee from the US & Europe - that's a big win for them! 💪 However, I also get why powerful voices in Washington might be skeptical about it... it does feel like a compromise that might not sit well with everyone. 🤷‍♂️ The thing is, history shows us that when countries can't accept defeat or victory, things can get pretty messy (think Vietnam & Afghanistan). 🚨 It's all about finding that balance and accepting the complexities of war. Ukraine's resilience & support from the US are key to their survival, not some external guarantee 🙏. We need to acknowledge both sides of this deal and work towards a solution that honors progress made while accepting reality 💬.
 
I gotta think about this... it's like when you're trying to find common ground with someone who has different opinions. You gotta listen to both sides and try to understand where they're coming from. It's not always easy, but sometimes that's what leads to a better outcome 🤝. The US government needs to stop idealizing a 'win' or a 'loss' and just focus on finding a solution that works for everyone involved. And Ukraine, you gotta keep pushing forward with your resilience, even if it feels like the world isn't supporting you fully 💪. This conflict might not have a perfect ending, but by acknowledging both sides and working together, we can find a way to make things better than they were before 🌈.
 
The proposed peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is like trying to solve a Rubik's cube - it's complicated 😅. On one hand, Ukraine gets to maintain its military strength with some constraints, which is a win for them 🤩. But on the other hand, they're giving up some control over their own borders and security, which might not be ideal.

The US is being super cautious about this deal, but honestly, prolonging the conflict won't make things better for Ukraine 😕. It's like, we get it, there's no clear-cut solution, but can't we try to find a middle ground? 🤝 I'm all for external support, but let's not forget that Ukraine has been holding on strong this whole time 💪.

It's also super interesting how the US tends to struggle with accepting both wins and losses 🤦‍♂️. Remember Vietnam and Afghanistan? 😳 Yeah, those were messy situations. But I think we can learn from that and try to find a balance here. Let's focus on Ukraine's resilience and what they can realistically achieve 💡.

It's funny how people say "total security" is unattainable - isn't that just the norm in international politics? 🤷‍♀️ Compromise is key, I guess 👍
 
The proposed peace deal may be seen as a midpoint, but it's really more like a dead-end street 🚗💀. I mean, Ukraine gets some breathing room, but Russia still gets to say they got their way... kinda. The US is basically being forced to play nice and accept that things won't get resolved in an absolute win-win situation. It's like trying to put together a puzzle with missing pieces 💡🤔.

I'm all for finding a compromise, but not just because of the politics – it's about understanding human nature 🤝. We can't always expect to get 100% of what we want; sometimes you have to settle for something that's "good enough". It's like with relationships or anything else; there are winners and losers, but who cares? 😒💕.

The US is all about the ideals, man 🤠. They can't accept defeat, no matter how realistic it is 💪🏽👊. I get why they feel that way – who wants to admit failure? But it's like, history has shown us that trying to hold on to those ideals is gonna get us nowhere 😔. We need to focus on the present and find solutions that work for everyone 🌎💬.

So yeah, let's just accept this messy middle ground 🤯 and try to make peace. Who knows? Maybe we'll surprise ourselves with what we can achieve when we let go of our expectations 🤗.
 
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal - it's like they say 🤔, not a win or a loss, but a weird in-between thing 💀. Ukraine gets to keep its military strength, which is still pretty solid ⚔️, and now they've got the US and Europe backing them up with some serious security guarantees 💯. But, it's gonna be a tough sell in Washington 🤷‍♂️, 'cause there are some folks who think it's not moral enough 🙅‍♂️.

It's kinda like when the US didn't want to leave Vietnam or Afghanistan - they just kept fighting and losing ⚔️. And now we're seeing the same thing with Ukraine 😩. The problem is, the US likes to go for these 'winning' ideals that are just never gonna happen 🤦‍♂️. They need to chill out and focus on finding a compromise that works 💡.

Ukraine's got some major wins under their belt, but they still lost a lot too 😭. So, can we please just accept the fact that there's no easy solution here? It's all about finding that balance between what Russia gets and what Ukraine needs 🤝. The US shouldn't be trying to force their own moral compass on the situation - let's just support Ukraine in a way that makes sense 💕.
 
I'm still thinking about what would've happened if Ukraine had gone all in for a total victory from the start... 🤔 Wouldn't have been pretty for Russia I suppose but Ukraine might not be in this mess now 🤷‍♂️. On a related note, do you guys think the US is doing enough to support Ukraine or are they just throwing good money after bad 💸?
 
🤔 the US needs to stop trying to win at all costs 🙅‍♂️ in conflicts like Ukraine, it's just not gonna end well 💥 remember the whole vietnam thing? 🕊️ nixon's "we had to break a few eggs" approach didn't exactly pay off 🥚 & obama's refusal to negotiate the Taliban's rise to power in afghanistan wasn't much better 🤦‍♂️ maybe it's time for some humility 🙏 and accepting that sometimes, compromise is key 🤝
 
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