At the moment, Putin will only make a deal if he believes that such a deal weakens the west or Ukraine or both in the long term. He is not in a place where he believes it is necessary for Russia to make any deal out of self preservation.
John Mearsheimer keeps saying, that he believes this war to be decided on the battlefield. The West is not going to significantly step up their efforts. As it stands Russia is battered but not yet fully committed to the war, so they still have escalating potential. The Western demand to put Ukraine into NATO and EU, is nothing for Putin to negotiate for, unless he has to negotiate. But if he is forced to negotiate Ukraine would have the power to fight back Russia until behind their borders.
At the moment, Putin will only make a deal if he believes that such a deal weakens the west or Ukraine or both in the long term. He is not in a place where he believes it is necessary for Russia to make any deal out of self preservation.
John Mearsheimer keeps saying, that he believes this war to be decided on the battlefield. The West is not going to significantly step up their efforts. As it stands Russia is battered but not yet fully committed to the war, so they still have escalating potential. The Western demand to put Ukraine into NATO and EU, is nothing for Putin to negotiate for, unless he has to negotiate. But if he is forced to negotiate Ukraine would have the power to fight back Russia until behind their borders.