I think the NATO and US deep-state see other options. Even with the destruction of Ukraine Army (which will take much longer than 10/1), they can establish a long-running insurgency among Azov radicals, they can give select, remaining Ukraine army units advanced missiles (and ISR support) which will simply be used to terrorize cities and "embarrass" Putin.
The main gamble was regime-change in Russia, but assuming that fails, it is to create a destabilizing "forever war" on Russia's border.
I can't see the US Deep State simply "walking away" from Ukraine. I also believe this is also why they will NEVER allow Trump to assume the Presidency.
In the face of this, Putin is actually a moderate who is attempting to play a long game. If he is destabilized, hardliners will come to the fore, who are ready to let the nukes fly on Washington DC
If Budanov continues that terrorist insurgency, the Russians will reclaim ethnic Russia up to the Dnieper. What’s left of Rump Ukraine, Putin will toss into that pack of bloodthirsty, fratricidal western “allies” Z has. This will be the result.
🇵🇱Poland
• Western Ukraine (Eastern Galicia and Volhynia):
- Transferred to Soviet Union in 1939, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the invasion of Poland.
🇷🇴 Romania
• Northern Bukovina and Hertza region:
- Transferred to the Soviet Union in 1940 following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
🇸🇰 Slovakia:
• Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia Oblast):
- Transferred to the Soviet Union in 1945 after WWII as part of the post-war territorial agreements.
🇭🇺 Hungary:
• Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia Oblast):
- Transferred to the Soviet Union in 1945 after WWII as part of the post-war territorial agreements.
Ukraine will cease to exist. NATO will have destroyed it and salted the “Ukrainian” earth.