Russia knows Ukraine won’t willingly cede territory to Russia. Russia is banking that - at some point - Ukraine’s Western partners will start to pressure Ukraine to accept Russian terms. Russia is banking that - at some point - the West will run out of patience and money for arming Ukraine if Ukraine proves incapable of dislodging Russian troops from Ukrainian soil.
Russia knows Ukraine won’t willingly cede territory to Russia. Russia is banking that - at some point - Ukraine’s Western partners will start to pressure Ukraine to accept Russian terms. Russia is banking that - at some point - the West will run out of patience and money for arming Ukraine if Ukraine proves incapable of dislodging Russian troops from Ukrainian soil.
They are waiting for trump to take the rein.