Russia Ukraine war, page-22040

At what point should Ukrainian leadership realise they're not in a position to make strong demands before undertaking meaningful negotiations? Surely, with hindsight, Mariupol should have been allowed to surrender. The way some of the Ukrainian leaders talk as though they have some kind of upper hand is bizarre in the face of all the destruction. The longer this drags it looks like the more Russia slowly gains territory, surely it is only going to weaken their bargaining power.