They certainly have nothing to lose —
What has this incident cost them???
It cost them one SAM — they have thousands.
They could care less about public opinion especially with their 5th estate propagandists blaming this on everyone else.
It will now cost every plane travelling east-west about $1500 more per flight for fuel.
Putin now has something to trade to compel the removal of those economic sanctions — you remove the sanctions and I will remove the SAMs from the hands of the Donetskian rebels so the corridor can be reopened.
Ok. Thanks. I have no idea where you are going with your line of thinking. Have a nice afternoon.