[gdani]

Putin was explicitly saying that he has no interest in invading Kiev. And that's because he knows it's not in his political best interest.

You assume Putin acts rationally. I'm not so sure he does, given everything else he does that is not in his best political interest.

[Alter Kaker]

You assume Putin acts rationally. I'm not so sure he does, given everything else he does that is not in his best political interest.

Really? His popularity is soaring. And it's clearly in Russia's national interest to not have a strong enemy on its doorstep. The question I would ask is how do Putin's actions accomplish that goal? I agree with you that I'm skeptical that there's an easy out for Russia, but I understand his reason for invading.