Neither side appears to have the military might to overcome the other.
The stalemate in Ukraine is likely to grind on until public support for one of the sides to collapse.
That's the view of midlands TD and former army ranger, Cathal Berry, after a significant win for Russia in Mariupol.
The independent Kildare-South deputy expects Kremlin forces will advance towards Odessa next, to seize full control of Ukraine's coastline.
Deputy Berry says neither side has the military might to overcome the other - but Vladimir Putin has made a major miscalculation as Sweden and Finland prepare to join NATO:
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