[TrumpCard]

When the war first started I was 100% in favor of supporting Ukraine.  My position has evolved slowly over time to where I now feel this war has to come to an end sooner rather than later.  The U.S. can not provide financial and military aid to Ukraine for years, possibly decades.  Putin can keep the war going indefinitely even if it means only attacking from his home land.  

I believe the process of Ukraine becoming a NATO member could take years.  Also one or more NATO countries may get cold feet about Ukraine's membership at the last moment.  If Ukraine does officially make it into NATO, that will force the U.S. and NATO countries to aggressively seek a peace treaty with Russia; the alternative being an unimaginable conflict.

The U.S. has to actively start discussion with Ukraine about an end game which will unfortunately mean compromise.  It's the best option out of all the bad options available.   Putin is not going to unconditionally surrender.

FWLIW, I have the opposite view regarding the U.S.'s best strategy.  I think the degradation of Russia's army is the best thing to happen to NATO since the high water mark for democracy building in the late 90s.  IMHO, it's worth the financial investment multiple times over and, again, IMHO, seems as likely to deter Russia from a future conflict with NATO as it is to spark such a conflict.  I have no designs on admitting Ukraine to NATO, nor do I think that is necessary for NATO to achieve its goal of deterring Russia and other rogue/imperialist nations from trying to colonize/annex sovereign nations.  Based on public indications, I suspect the Biden Administration would fall somewhere in between our respective views, but probably closer to mine than yours.

[TrumpCard]

When the war first started I was 100% in favor of supporting Ukraine.  My position has evolved slowly over time to where I now feel this war has to come to an end sooner rather than later.  The U.S. can not provide financial and military aid to Ukraine for years, possibly decades.  Putin can keep the war going indefinitely even if it means only attacking from his home land.  

I believe the process of Ukraine becoming a NATO member could take years.  Also one or more NATO countries may get cold feet about Ukraine's membership at the last moment.  If Ukraine does officially make it into NATO, that will force the U.S. and NATO countries to aggressively seek a peace treaty with Russia; the alternative being an unimaginable conflict.

The U.S. has to actively start discussion with Ukraine about an end game which will unfortunately mean compromise.  It's the best option out of all the bad options available.   Putin is not going to unconditionally surrender.

FWLIW, I have the opposite view regarding the U.S.'s best strategy.  I think the degradation of Russia's army is the best thing to happen to NATO since the high water mark for democracy building in the late 90s.  IMHO, it's worth the financial investment multiple times over and, again, IMHO, seems as likely to deter Russia from a future conflict with NATO as it is to spark such a conflict.  I have no designs on admitting Ukraine to NATO, nor do I think that is necessary for NATO to achieve its goal of deterring Russia and other rogue/imperialist nations from trying to colonize/annex sovereign nations.  Based on public indications, I suspect the Biden Administration would fall somewhere in between our respective views, but probably closer to mine than yours.