Why would you even say something like this?
And yes, Sport is a proxy for war as well as entertainment just like in the past as in the Roman colosseum, or the Italian middle ages
Why be obtuse? The answer is quite simple.
Because on 23 Feburary, 2022 the Russian Army wasn't in Ukraine, and after this date they were.
They could claim victory. They grabbed several provinces, crush the ukes in them, and taught them a lesson.
The Romans used to throw women and children to the lions in the colosseum. Then it was "sport".
Would you like it better if I said, "Ukraine was completely wrong to force the Russians to have no choice except to attack them. But now Russia has made their point and can declare victory and leave."
WHAT do you think the end goal should be for both sides? Unconditional surrender? Negotiated settlement? Continuation of a war measured in meters?