By design - lots of people have reminded us this is the Russian Way of negotiations. Maximalist demands.

Demand more than everything, and yield nothing. Then sit there in uncomfortable silence until they offer you something you didn't have before, because they always do. Because feckless pussies in the west value peace more than you do. This is the negotiation tactic of terrorists, of course. Give us something or else.

That only works though, if they truly fear your potential brutality. But - what else can Russia do that it hasn't already done to Ukraine? It's possible there is a limit to their 'give me something' stonewalling. They're dying in vastly irreplaceable numbers right now and not achieving anything substantial in the process.

The past success of Russia's maximalist demands was predicated on fear of what the Russians might do if you didn't give them something. Not only can they not be trusted to keep their word, but we've seen all they can do. There's really not much they can do to escalate further, which really erodes their childish position. China isn't going to allow them to use nukes, nor should you use nukes against a) your neighbor or b) land you claim is yours.