Avdiivka is the current victim of the Ukraine war, but which path does Vladimir Putin take now? If the capture of this minor town has exhausted Russian strength, as it had done at Bakhmut, the Ukrainians may have an opportunity to rally and regroup their forces. Among the terms of surrender currently proposed by Russian mediators is Ukraine's ceding of territory already under Russian control, along with Kharkiv and some areas around Odessa.
Russia also demands that Ukraine refrain from joining NATO and install a head of state of Russia's choosing.