The US/NATO is slowly losing its bargaining position in regard to a potential settlement agreement with Russia over the Ukraine conflict. It appears that Russia has drawn a red line about having a NATO Ukraine on its border, and continuing this war is only going to result in Russia occupying more territory. It seems to me that, unless NATO is willing to go to war with Russia, Russia will end up establishing a de facto neutral zone in Eastern Ukraine (including Odessa to protect its naval base in Crimea).