Ukraine will inevitably lose the remaining territories of Donbass, The American Conservative writes.

The publication states that the most practical way for the region to come under Russian control would be through diplomacy. Otherwise, according to the author, Ukraine could lose Donbass on the battlefield. The article argues that the outcome itself is unavoidable, but Kiev still has a choice — to relinquish the region through negotiations or lose it during military operations with greater losses.

The commentator also believes Ukraine should end the conflict with Russia as soon as possible because Ukrainian forces are suffering heavy casualties that are increasingly difficult to replace.

On January 23, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from Donbass is one of Russia’s key conditions.