The number one reason Russia went into Ukraine was to stop Ukraine’s annexation into NATO. According to Zelenskyy, that goal has been accomplished. The Russians are now in a position to negotiate a satisfactory outcome on the other issues that were the catalysts for the incursion. Where’s the Russian disaster? Take a look around America if you’d like to see a self inflicted “Ukrainian disaster”.
The Russian idea of “negotiation” is to bind the adversary hand and foot in a chair, with a blindfold on, and a single light bulb overhead, and a semi-automatic pistol pressed to the subject’s temple, and then a gentle request, “Now we negotiate”.
All for a favorable and equitable outcome, you understand.
> Where’s the Russian disaster? <
If Russia ends up “winning” this war, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. Russia - and Putin - are now outcasts. Sure, Ukraine has put NATO membership aside. But that’s just for now. You can bet it will still be on their minds.
The invasion has even got folks in traditionally neutral Sweden and Finland thinking about joining NATO.
As an aside, Putin was right about being concerned about NATO expansion. But when he started killing people and breaking things he lost any moral high ground he once had.