The new state-of-emergency laws introduced by the Kremlin in October are aimed at being able to provide a strategic defense of the “captured objectives” rather than all-out warfare to the bitter end.

Putin has made it clear that the Kremlin hopes to end the “special military operation” as quickly as possible. If Zelensky does not want to stop his counteroffensive and resume talks, then the Kremlin believes it must convince his Western partners to force him.

Is there a realistic format for a political undertaking not to expand NATO to Russia’s borders?