[Jim Noble]

if Russia were to win, it would face years of costly and bloody insurrection

Like they did in East Germany, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia?

Don't make me laugh.

[goldstategop]

The Ukrainians are Europeans. The only reason the Russians lost Eastern Europe was the empire was draining them dry.

If the Ukrainians are smart, they will let the Russians occupy them and pick up the tab for their bankrupt country.

In the end Russia will disgorge them because the financial costs of keeping them happy are not worth it.

If the only reason Putin is deterred from invading Ukraine, is not due to moral scruples, respect for international law, or even a regard for human life but simply because acquired real estate is very expensive to administer in the modern world.

And rebuilding the Russian Empire involves more than grabbing huge chunks of land in the bargain.