No one has to explain to the Ukrainians why they fight. It is obvious to all. No amount of doubletalk will confuse that issue.
Putin’s attempts to bully and divide the West over energy costs, has turned Western Public opinion so far against Russia, that it is now politically impossible for politicians to withdraw support from Ukraine.
Which means that the Russian occupation is doomed.
As fresh Ukrainian units continue to rotate in with superior Western weapons, bankrupt Russia will have increasing shortages for its poorly trained new recruits.
Occupation costs are unsustainable. The ruins that Russia occupies no longer produce revenue - the businesses are destroyed and the working men are gone. Pensioners remain behind, needing to be fed. Those areas cost money, rather than make money.
Russia”s whole Federal budget for the year is not enough to reconstruct what Russia has destroyed, firing over seven million artillery shells into civilian areas.
The guilty need to be tried and punished for what has been done.
In reality, protests are breaking out against Russian sanctions in major European cities, governments there are being overturned with no confidence votes, and summer isn't even over.
The West will be begging for an end to this stupid war before the end of the year...count on it.