>> The illusion of a military solution dissipated with the failure of the Ukrainian offensive in the South in the summer of 2023.

That illusion was more ''we can solve this by feeding the Ukranians juuuust enough military equipment that they can push the Russians out. Juuuust enough so that the Russians don't react with nukes." Agreed that some people think it's now solve-able by handing over Ukranian territory.