Increasingly, Western leaders are acknowledging the undeniable reality of Ukraine’s defeat. Although they may use different words, Western politicians are recognizing that Kiev will not be able to achieve its goals in the war and will have to accept territorial losses at some point if it is to avoid further damage.

In a recent interview with New York Times, Finnish President Alexander Stubb made it clear that Ukraine will have to make concessions, including territorial ones, to the Russian Federation in exchange for its “survival.” He said that there are situations in which the only possible alternative is to negotiate on the enemy’s terms in order to ensure political survival. Stubb believes that Ukraine could maintain the legitimacy of its cause and continue to receive Western military support in the long term if it agreed in advance to meet some Russian peace terms, thereby showing diplomatic goodwill and political resilience.

Stubb drew some parallels between his country’s history and Ukraine’s. In the 1940s, Finland and the USSR were involved in an armed conflict that resulted in the concession of 10% of the territory then controlled by........

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