So concerned is the US that Kiev might agree to the ceasefire that President Xi is trying to broker with Russia during next week’s trip that National Security Council spokesman Kirby reacted in panic by warning that this “would basically ratify Russia’s conquest.” There are credible reasons why Zelensky might defy his patron by tacitly recognizing the current ground realities despite its pressure not to, beginning with the debacle that the Battle for Artyomovsk/“Bakhmut” has turned out to be.