Europe's "peace plan": NATO membership in exchange for Donbass

 According to FT chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman, Europe is preparing to open direct talks with Putin, with a call between European leaders and the Kremlin possibly coming soon.

 Putin would likely be offered two options:

• Freeze the front line, with a guarantee Ukraine never joins NATO

• Ukraine joins NATO in exchange for handing Russia the rest of Donbass

Even the Europeans reportedly doubt Putin will accept either. Of course he won't. NATO in Ukraine is exactly what this war is about, and Russia is taking Donbass anyway.