Do that and the Russians will stop thinking about what they can steal from everyone else.
Russian culture isn't a populist democracy, republic or representative government.
They are used to the strong man protecting the Rodina.
The savage that replaces Putin would have to be cunning enough or sociopathic enough to survive his murderous predecessor and all the killing Putin did to eliminate any threat or "up and comer".
Russia IS NOT LIKE the United States and treat or expect it's leaders to suck up and "grab a beer" with the masses... The Russian people expect a badass that will put fear in any country that threatens the Rodina.
This is going to end badly, for all of us.
Ukraine will fall-everything east of the Dnipro river, Transnistria, Moldova and part of Romania are next.
Then Poland will have to either play nice or if they ask for nukes get invaded. The "tell" will be if we put nukes east of Warsaw.... threatening Russia or west of Warsaw, giving Putin a buffer zone. If we put nuclear weapons or missiles capable of carrying them (cruise missiles) , then buy iodine, ammo, food and your family and friends need to make a plan.
Putin is going all in and will invade Poland, the Baltics... and NATO/US will destroy his army. He will have no option but to go nuclear on the tactical side and then we will have to depend on our AMAZING PRESIDENT and his leadership ability in crisis, as well as the geniuses at Dept of State and DOD to walk this back..... or we go to war.
China has two options.. take eastern Russia or Taiwan.
Anyone that tells you that Putin is faking nuclear war or "would never think of it" is so pathetically naive that they should be put in front of a history and geography books for a couple of years.
“China has two options.. take eastern Russia or Taiwan.”
Right now China has more to gain and very little to lose by seizing a practically defenseless Siberia. I think they’re just waiting for Russia to bleed itself dry in Ukraine before stepping in to take back what once was theirs anyway.
The West will not lift a single finger to help Russia fight off China. There won’t be any sanctions, no increased military posture for the most part, and while China grabs Siberia the Japanese will be free to take back the Kuriles and Sakhalin.
The only loser here is Russia.
And your analysis of Russian culture makes the case for letting them collapse before we make them accept EU style concessions for resuming normal relations.
“Ukraine will fall-everything east of the Dnipro river, Transnistria, Moldova and part of Romania are next.”
Any part of Romania gets attacked and then lots of parts of Russia will be attacked. That’s how NATO rolls.
“Then Poland will have to either play nice or if they ask for nukes get invaded.”
1. Which would justify placing nukes in Poland in the first place.
2. And it gets Russia into a direct war with NATO.
“(Putin) will have no option but to go nuclear on the tactical side”
He could always elect not to start a war. Crazy thought, eh?
Dick “Ukraine will fall-everything east of the Dnipro river, Transnistria, Moldova and part of Romania are next.”
That’s what we thought in February 2022.
Now that is zero possibility.