Russia & China just might be dragging their feet, to deplete the U.S. & N.A.T.O. of their weapons & ammo stockpiles, and downgrade or destroy the economies of the U.S. & Western European nations. Patiently awaiting for the optimum opportunity to take us out, by using an EMP to take out our eyes & ears, making us extremely vulnerable. Perhaps that's what they were testing with their balloon intrusions. To see exactly how we would respond.
Capture our nuclear weapons, and cobble up the world.
Regardless, our involvement in this conflict will not end well, I suspect. Because, like the economy, those in control in this nation are either completely inept, or they are traitors.
I don't know, all conjecture on my part except for our leadership that is, and apparently other experts don't know either. Because many of them are dumbfounded at the pace Russia has been proceeding. Are they wrong about Russia's capabilities? Perhaps, it wouldn't be the first time our intelligence agencies got it wrong, sadly enough.
Whatever it is, I still doubt Ukraine will be victorious in the end. No matter how you look at it, this was a misadventure that we should not have allowed to progress to the initial invasion to begin with.
Well, first, Ukraine is already victorious because there is now no possibility Russia will ever impose its tyranny over free Ukrainians.
Ukraine will forever be a European country.
Second, 100% the Ukraine-Russia war is a function of perceived & actual American & allies' weakness.
Strong American leadership (i.e., DJT) would prevent the war or end it before things spiral out of control.
As for Russia & China potentially, "Patiently awaiting for the optimum opportunity to take us out, by using an EMP ", the answer to that is the same as it's been since 1945 -- MAD.
MAD has prevented WWIII all these years and will very likely continue to do so.
If MAD fails, then the human race will not survive in our current form.