[Goose]

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.

There are lots of possible end games. Putin may indeed not surrender unconditionally but if Putin is no longer calling the shots, what then? The problem with any solution that does not actively prevent Russia from continuing this war at a later date, no matter what compromises were made, isn't viable either for Ukraine, the EU, or the US. It will just be kicking the can down the road. Been there, done that (the Trilateral Agreement).

The end game is going to cost money and involve measurable actions by the US and NATO. IMHO that is just a fact. The US has troops in Korea not because they can single-handedly stop a North Korean attack (nuclear or otherwise), but rather as "hostages" to our commitment to defend South Korea. IMHO we and the rest of NATO are looking at something like that here. Less won't sell. Nobody in Ukraine is going to trust Russia's word or our "word" that we would stop a rerun of this mess.

[Goose]

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.

There are lots of possible end games. Putin may indeed not surrender unconditionally but if Putin is no longer calling the shots, what then? The problem with any solution that does not actively prevent Russia from continuing this war at a later date, no matter what compromises were made, isn't viable either for Ukraine, the EU, or the US. It will just be kicking the can down the road. Been there, done that (the Trilateral Agreement).

The end game is going to cost money and involve measurable actions by the US and NATO. IMHO that is just a fact. The US has troops in Korea not because they can single-handedly stop a North Korean attack (nuclear or otherwise), but rather as "hostages" to our commitment to defend South Korea. IMHO we and the rest of NATO are looking at something like that here. Less won't sell. Nobody in Ukraine is going to trust Russia's word or our "word" that we would stop a rerun of this mess.