I too have followed this war very closely and have come to realize much of the same things. At the start of the war I believed Putin was just old-man insane, spending too much time in isolation. A few months on I believed it was 50/50 problem communicating between the U.S. and Russia. Today I believe it 95% possible that the U.S. could have averted this war. Or found a way to end it early on.

I don't believe a SINGLE THING the Biden Administration says, about anything. Most Americans pick Trump or Biden and pretend Ukraine has nothing to do with them.

If Ukraine was a true democracy there'd be a new government. The letter you reprinted rings 100% accurate. Glad you printed it.

All that said. I want Ukraine to return to peace. To get back it's original borders. I just don't see how it will have been worth it for your average Ukrainian (or Russian).