“Of course Putin understands that Russian neutrality will lead to an all-out attack on Russia if the US succeeds against China.”
I don’t understand that statement.
Please explain why, if Russia remained neutral in a US vs China war which the US wins; why then would Russia be attacked and by whom?
By the US and allies.
Not a direct military attack — Russia still would have a superior military — but new Cold War.
Very similar to what has happened right after WWII.
Specifically, massive sanctions and pressure on the entire perimeter, perhaps even including the Chinese border — if China is defeated.
And this is the scenario Putin must avoid.
You need to think out of the box.
After WWII most everyone realized that the US possessed the most powerful weapon of war that mankind had ever built.
That weapon insured the defeat of any single nation on Earth and most of the possible alliances of nations.
The first post war President to use that weapon was Ronald Reagan when he used it to coerce the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Socialist Democrats and RINOs have eroded that weapon significantly, until the US cannot use it against an alliance of strong nations.
However, against a single nation the US would likely prevail.
Then there would be nothing to prevent using the same tactics on any nation that stood by in neutrality.
Do you trust Biden and the Democrats?
Why should Russia?