Russia does not need to defeat Ukraine militarily. They are well on the way now, courtesy of the West's ignorant indifference. Russia will be content with a compliant Ukraine government such as in Belarus. If the West forces a capitulation by Ukraine with no security guarantees, it is over. The present Ukraine government will be overthrown and pro Russians installed. That's enough for Putin to declare victory.Russia is far from beating Ukraine. They haven't even conquered all of the Donbas after almost 3 years. At that rate they might conquer it in 500 years. They're not that good of a military