Peace talks before Russia is pushed back at least to Ukraine's post-2014 borders is basically a victory for Russia, and we would have this conversation again in 5-10 years.
I don’t know nor have access to the information necessary to judge if it would have been better for the population.
I just deeply dislike the narrative which pushes the Ukrainian conflict as an unambiguous fight between the forces of good and evil with a single acceptable outcome and where anything short of total support for one side to keep fighting is seen as wrong.
Now that the Ukrainians are taking back territories I fully expect the purging related stories to be on their way and it’s not going to look pretty as usual. Wars are disgusting affairs.
You can’t base your analysis on the reported exactions committed by one side. That’s just setting you as an easy target for propaganda.
2. I'd expect there to not be a war to begin with. Russia 100% controls this, and can stop whenever they want.
3. War doesn't have to be done in the most brutal way possible.
4. "the purging related stories to be on their way and it’s not going to look pretty as usual" I don't understand what this means.
I'm getting very strong pro-Russian vibes from your comments. Not going to reply anymore -- real people are dying.
I said focusing on that makes you analysing conflicts poorly and expose you to be manipulated. I am most definitely not pro-Russian. I am very much pro the interests of my own country first however.
I don’t foresee Ukraine getting back Crimea ending well for the population of Crimea. Let’s not forget Crimea has tried to be independent since 1991 and Ukraine had to send its army there in 1995. I don’t think a peaceful reintegration is possible.