If the Russians can accept the millions of people they’ve lost in WW2 they can accept more suffering.
Nope. Russia simply is not a demographically dominant power in Europe anymore.
Historically, the most populous country dominated the European continent militarily. France in the 17th, 18th century, German in the mid 19th to mid 20th centuries, then USSR in mid 20th to late 20th century.
When USSR broke up in 1991, Russia no longer had demographic dominance. They also lost their Warsaw pact allies that gave them an important population and industrial base as well as an obviously favorable strategic position.
It’s really sad to see such profound ignorance coming from someone in an important military position.
Actually, it’s this guy’s ignorance that is truly something to be worried about.
Perhaps he is counting on a really dumbed down ignorant public.