The next 'buffer state' after hypothetical UA fall is Poland, and make no mistakes about it - Poles will move to blowing up German infrastructure in retaliation this time around. You can pull Ribbentrop-Molotov only once. Majority of Poles know where Schroder is now and who he has been working for the last 25 years.

So Yes, Germany can dream of appeasing Russia by risking internal EU war with Poland.

It seems unlikely that the US would allow two of its satellites to fight each-other.

"No Ukraine" is the only Russia's terms. Even Russian state TV propagandists say that anything less is just a temporary ceasefire.

There is just no way for Russia, being a full blown fascist state now, to get peace of mind.

> There is just no way for Russia, being a full blown fascist state now, to get peace of mind.

I think that demolishing Kremlin after Putin's death will help with that.

well, taking Lenin out of Mausoleum and burying him would be the first step. A huge and symbolic step.

Sacrificing a state’s autonomy destabilizes the surrounding states. Every inch of ground taken needs to be very expensive for Russia.

the EU gets it’s buffer state and cheap gas

I think that is the most naive take I’ve read here.

You really think appeasement will work this time? It hasn't in the past.

Then China will happily merge Taiwan.