The Warsaw Pact and NATO were arguably "near peers."
Meanwhile, the Warsaw Pact has been thrown onto the scrap heap of history.
Deprived of its vassal states and buffer zones, the Soviet Union, by itself, was hopelessly outgunned, outflanked, and outnumbered by NATO.
Meanwhile, the Soviet Union has likewise been consigned to the scrap heap of history, while NATO has considerably grown in size and strength.
After more than 600 days of fighting, Russia's manpower and military assets have been significantly degraded by Putin's Special Military Operation in invasion of Ukraine. NATO has continued to grow, adding long-term hold-outs Finland and Sweden.
All signs point to Putin's Russia likewise soon following its predecessors on the scrap heap of history.
Regards,
Your take is based on fundamental flaw.
Russia wasn’t defeated in the Cold War but was convinced that the command economy is disadvantageous in terms of meeting the requirements of provision of the high living standards to its population and better results could be achieved through integration into Western institutions. Dissolving the Warsaw Pact and demilitarization was seen as a way of rapproachment.
The following events proved that they were naive as it was used by the West against Russia.
It is the primary reason why this trick is not going to work again.
Your take on the effects of the Ukrainian war on Russia is way off. It has reinforced the conviction of the Russian population that the West is the enemy.
The rest is history.
NATO belongs to the scrap heap of history along. Garbage organization that weakens by the day. USA is fortunate Ukraine bears brunt of the inferiority of NATO.
USA went chasing out of Afghanistan in the most embarrassing act ever. Yes, Taliban cavemen scared away mighty USA.