Not to Lose

It has never been in the cards for the Ukraine to defeat Russia. If Moscow has any prospect of losing while Putin is in power, he would use his nuclear arsenal. It is only because of external demands that Ukrainian forces did not consolidate their defenses and reserve their maneuvers to strengthen their hold on territory Russia has not conquered. Too many Ukrainians have died because the West has pressured Kyiv to foolishly go on the offensive. All Zelenskyy need do to prevail is to stalemate Putin, because to win against a much larger and more powerful foe is not to lose and hold onto territory while bleeding little Vlad's forces.