[drysine]

>In this war strategic victory is not the destruction of the state, but the control over development trajectory of the rival for the foreseeable future.

No, it wouldn't be victory, it would be compromise. And the Ukraine isn't Russia's rival, it's just cannon fodder for the West.

>they are surprisingly content with Ukraine joining EU

Kremlin says that. Doesn't have to be true.

>which is unacceptable to Ukraine

Why is it unacceptable to the Ukraine?

I see why it's unacceptable for current regime in Kiev because they can't just say "we actually don't need Donbass, never mind hundreds of thousands lives we wasted defending it".