Hard-line positions

Ukraine tries to prise out Russians as U.S. grudgingly explores détente in China

As Ukrainian forces grind slowly forward, they are encountering deeply entrenched Russian invaders who’ve spent more than a year studying Ukraine’s imported Western weapons and tactics to hone their defense and improve strategies.

Having been burned by Ukraine’s lightning strike on Kharkiv last fall, Russia is going to make any gains slow and costly. Ru…