i don't think you need to occupy a country up to its capital anymore to negotiate peace. nato interfering and sending ground troops to push back to the agreed 2014 borders is more than reasonable, even occupying 100km of territory as buffer is fine.  you use nooks when you're in a total war and about to have your entire existence threatened. at least that's what some general told me what he believed (and we have a whacko nuke policy).
France