This is the time for Russia to declare victory and cease all offensive operations.
They’ve gained what they wanted.
Forcing Ukraine to attack instead of defend will make them see how senseless continued fighting will be, and we all can climb off the brink.
I think attacking Ukraine in the first place was wrong, but reality bites.
I think they are waiting on Zelensky to surrender and work the negotiations at the table. Zelensky is a puppet of the US, UK and needs permission to end it. Must be why he and people in his regime have bought luxury places in other countries when the end of this happens.
There will probably be some very pissed off Ukrainians.
Just declaring victory isn’t going to do it if the other side is still wanting to fight.
The Russians won’t stop until they reach the Dnepr River.
After this point, if Zelensky can’t get permission to negotiate (from his U.S. State Dept. bosses and paymasters), Ukraine will lose Kharkiv (majority ethnic Russian) and Odessa (ditto).
If Ukraine loses Odessa, it will be a land-locked rump state.
There are also parts of Donetsk oblast to liberate. And given that quite some efforts were invested, it doesn’t make sense than leave Ukraine Odessa and Nikolaev.
I think attacking Ukraine in the first place was wrong, but reality bites.
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Putin saw two things that led him to invade: the debacle in Afghanistan and Biden’s weakness.
If Trump was still president the invasion would never have happened IMO.