Why is the Euromaidan press acting like pulling back to better defensible positions is painful???
It's actually a lot less painful to do that sensible thing than it is to be stubborn about where the lines are. It's better to be smart about where those lines are.
A person who is too stubborn about the overall quantity of land person gives over all possibilities there are to control that conflict with the enemy. It's wise to be concerned about the quality of the location one fights from.
Use the land for advantage, don't allow oneself be owned by that land.