the entire notion of Ukrainian independence from Russia. Until Russia can comprehensively beat that idea out of the Ukrainian ethos, this war will not end.

Now to be clear, you're not of course advocating that Russia do that therefore violating a peoples self determination, right?

"If Russia wanted to do X they would have done so already"

Sure, sure, any day now.

The mighty russian golf cart army will tAkE aLL of Ukraine if they Want to, but they prefer to die in the trenches. And install a puppet gov that makes them win the war? Naah vatnik still prefer to die in trench.

The copium is hard.

Isn't their government currently illegitimate because they refused to hold elections?

This lets me know you are full of shit. Russia is also a topic of this conversation and the haven't had a legitimate election in decades.

Laws of Ukraine explicitly state that elections cannot be held in a wartime. These provisions are older than current presidency and parliament.

Claim to illegitimacy due to refused elections is the best way to tell everyone you gobble up Russian propaganda.

How is it a fact that Russia would have done it by now if they wanted it? You think thenparatroopers they landed into Kiev were there for the scenery? That Russia truly wanted to rid themselves of billions upon billions in equipment and half a million of their population?

bizzare.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/zelenskyy-say-no-elections-until-war-ends/