Ukraine lost the minute they refused to take Putin's early offer to eschew NATO membership. No power is going to tolerate a hostile actor on their doorstep - Russia won't with Ukraine, China won't with Taiwan, and the US didn't with Cuba trying to host Russian missiles.<p>Western arms still require soldiers, who are in short supply, with Ukraine resorting at times to forced conscription of young men. Tough outlook...<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/world/europe/ukraine-military-recruitment.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/world/europe/ukraine-mili...</a>