It's not a failure of politics/diplomacy (except in the very broadest sense)

when 2 or more sides want fundamentally incompatible things, and are prepared to fight for them - or at least, it's not a failure unless you assume everyone is basically reasonable/rational and willing to discuss and agree. If they're not, you've got a problem. Ukraine cannot be both independent and part of Russia. There's going to be a loser.

Posted By: paulg, Feb 25, 17:14:56