What challenges does Ukraine face as potential peace negotiations emerge, and how has the situation deteriorated for Ukraine over time?

According to BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, Ukraine faces increasingly difficult circumstances as potential peace negotiations develop. He characterizes the current moment as a "watershed" for Ukraine, suggesting that any negotiated settlement will require Ukraine to accept increasingly harsh terms - what he describes as "a pill that Ukraine is going to have to swallow" that is "getting increasingly bitter by the day." The analysis indicates that Ukraine's negotiating position has weakened over time due to diminishing Western support and ongoing military pressures. Gardner suggests that while Trump's communication with Putin might signal movement toward negotiations, this development may not necessarily benefit Ukraine, as the country may be forced to accept unfavorable conditions to end the conflict.