Russia in danger of losing ground in Donbas Crimea held before war

 Newsweek:

A debate has reportedly emerged within NATO circles over the possibility Ukraine could seize the momentum in its fight against Russia and take back Crimea and the Donbas region.

Following Russia's withdrawal from the Kyiv region to focus on the Donbas in Ukraine's east, NATO expects a "standstill for a while," an unnamed alliance official said.

But in comments also reported by Ukrainian media, the official told CNN: "I think [Ukraine] could [retake Crimea and the Donbas], yes. Not now, not soon, but if they can keep up the fight I think so."

Talk of the future of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, was ramped up by Kyiv on Monday. It leapt upon a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow had "no territorial disputes" with Finland or Sweden, which are seeking to join NATO.
...

Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, said this was a significant change in language, with local news outlet Unian reporting that it suggested Russia is "morally preparing the population for the surrender of the peninsula."

Arestovych said that previously Crimea was not considered a "territorial dispute" for Moscow and that its status as part of Russia, which the world community disputes, had been secured by a "referendum of the people."
...

Russia is a much weaker power now than it was before it started the war.  Whether Ukraine will go for Crimea is an open question at this point.  No one can say Russia is winning now.

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