The center of Europe is moving eastward

The Russian retreat to the other side of the Dnipro River is of great significance to the future political geography of Central and Eastern Europe. Along with the Russian retreat from Kyiv, it means that Ukraine will not be subject to Russian occupation to the west of the Dnipro and will remain an independent state. Regardless of any pressure to negotiate with the Russians on other matters, that is now a certainty. 

The major Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv, Odessa, and Lviv will still be attacked from the air by Russia and could yet lead to Ukraine reluctantly agreeing to a less than satisfactory peace, such as the acceptance of the permanent loss of Crimea. But Russian control of all of Ukraine is now impossible, and we can be certain that to the west of the Dnipro River, Ukraine will survive as a state. 

Poland must now begin to think about what would be an acceptable outcome once this conflict ends. It knows that the events of this year have brought Poland and Ukraine closer together. This is because Ukraine has pivoted towards Poland, despite the unfavorable history between the two nations, and this change in perception occurred between the two peoples, not just the governments. There is even talk about a very close alliance between Poland and Ukraine that would effectively change the way Eastern Europe works. 

via rmx.news

ICYMI.