Thanks for interacting in good faith...

- what action specifically is the west pushing Zelenski away from Minsk?

Both Minsk and Istanbul accords would have been signed if the west did not encourage Zelenski not to sign. The BoJo visit is widely quoted.

- why is the Ukraine war a lost cause if it is tying up Russian military resources?

Ukraine itself it lost. Maybe the west-coalition still finds it useful. But the country is now conscripting women. They do not have the men anymore. No airdefence. Losing land at an ever increasing pace. Attack on russian industry are countered with 10x harder attacks on ukrainian industry. Supporting coutries less willing to give to Zelenski. Country is in shambles.

- how does Merkel wish for a stronger Ukraine defense indicate a wish for confrontation instead of a deterrence against it?

If you are a guarantor country for a de-escalation peace deal, it is dirty to merely hold up appearances in order to buy Ukraine time to strengthening them for the confrontation that you know will come. That's two-faces guarantorship.

- how does northstream, which seems to be Ukraine going against “the west”, an evidence for the west wanting a confrontation with Russia?

As long as the NS is operating, Germany and Russia have strong economic ties. Breaking those ties by an act of industrial terrorism (by Ukraine on Germany -- which should trigger a NATO-art5 in normal situations) is bringing NATO more together. Germany has to buy energy from the US now. Lol.