There's a strong possibility that the conflict could end before US elections. Given the current situation, it appears that Ukraine is struggling to defend both its eastern and northern fronts simultaneously. As a result, Russia may achieve a breakthrough in one of the ongoing offensives. Furthermore, Ukraine's rushed movements between fronts only exacerbate the situation. The challenge for Ukraine is that it cannot afford to lose Kharkov, which would be both a political and logistical disaster. However, due to widespread corruption, the area is defenseless. As a result, Ukraine is compelled to relocate its best troops from strategic locations like Chasov Yar to bolster its defenses. This may temporarily halt Russia's advance, but it could also result in the front line being split into two cauldrons, one in the north and one in the south, with communication between them severed. In such a scenario, Ukraine's situation would be dire, and the conflict could quickly reach its conclusion.

Yeah, is thruth but we need to realise that russian strategy is not to seize territory. That's part of NATO's propaganda, which attrubutes the russian military objectives it does not has : "to conquer" ukraine and to "dominate" it, then, when those objectives will not be achieved (because not pursued), they can claim victory regardless the real result of the conflct.
Russia's objectives are very clear: de-nazification of Ukraine (also meaning stopping persecutions to russian-originary ukraine inhabitants) and to avoid ukraine to join the NATO. To get the donbass was not in plans but now that they got it, of course they will not give it back (also, because being part of Russia was the donbass people own expectatives).

riot

That isn't in the nature of liberals, who are the only people who care about this conflict.