Russian invasion of Ukraine

So the newsweek article is deliberately misleading / puts a false spin on things?

Here's an interview with Chomsky from April

https://theintercept.com/2022/04/14/russia-ukraine-noam-chomsky-jeremy-scahill/

NC: I think that support for Ukraine’s effort to defend itself is legitimate. If it is, of course, it has to be carefully scaled, so that it actually improves their situation and doesn’t escalate the conflict, to lead to destruction of Ukraine and possibly beyond sanctions against the aggressor, or appropriate just as sanctions against Washington would have been appropriate when it invaded Iraq, or Afghanistan, or many other cases. Of course, that’s unthinkable given U.S. power and, in fact, the first few times it has been done — the one time it has been done — the U.S. simply shrugged its shoulders and escalated the conflict. That was in Nicaragua ,when the U.S. was brought to the World Court, condemned for unlawful use of force or to pay reparations, responded by escalating the conflict. So it’s unthinkable in the case of the U.S., but it would be appropriate.

However, I still think it’s not quite the right question. The right question is: What is the best thing to do to save Ukraine from a grim fate, from further destruction? And that’s to move towards a negotiated settlement.

There are some simple facts that aren’t really controversial. There are two ways for a war to end: One way is for one side or the other to be basically destroyed. And the Russians are not going to be destroyed. So that means one way is for Ukraine to be destroyed.

The other way is some negotiated settlement. If there’s a third way, no one’s ever figured it out. So what we should be doing is devoting all the things you mentioned, if properly shaped, but primarily moving towards a possible negotiated settlement that will save Ukrainians from further disaster. That should be the prime focus.

Sorry for the long quote.

excerpt from the NYT,

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/opinion/peace-ukraine.html

Chomsky, for his part, believes that Russia’s military is simply too strong to lose; in the absence of a settlement, Ukraine will be destroyed.

this is what I understand from these two interviews:

There can be support for Ukrainian defense. it should only be enough to improve their position to bargain and make concessions.

too much support will lead to Ukraine's destruction. As it is impossible for Russia to lose (key Chomsky point)... So you are essentially doing damage limitation. Move to the point of reaching an agreement, giving Russia what they want to cease the invasion as soon as possible. 'Ukraine will be destroyed before Russia loses this war' or something like that.