They were already a demographic black hole (well below replacement birthrates). An entire generation of Ukrainian men are wounded or dead. Millions have left the country and are never coming back after finding new jobs, partners, etc. Their future is dire if they "win"; the whole situation is just cynical and sad.

Why was that being labeled a conspiracy theory? Is there something nefarious in that article that I’m missing?

> If Ukraine draws a truce, it will be western banks and firms doing the reconstruction

Lend-Lease terms make it near certain they will largely, specifically, be American, since the debt from that can be paid either directly or by hiring US firms for reconstruction, and the latter obviously gets more back for Ukraine.