Some Western officials say a complete defeat of Russia is necessary at all costs. Others believe that Russia's goal is to restore its sphere of influence in the region.
The best way to resolve the conflict is to reach an agreement between Russia and the U.S., says the head of the Russian Higher School of Economics. The U.K. government says it will not accept a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine before the end of the year, unless a deal is reached to end the conflict in the first place.