I think some people are underestimating the factor (from Putins deranged point of view) about how important it is for Russia that Ukraine wont be a part of Nato (who he basically sees as USA). He thinks it would be a huge security threat to Russia, and securing that it wont happen is, in his mind, way more important than the current well-being of their economy. The country can recover from sanctions over time, especially since they still have their oil, Germany did eventually after WWII. But Russia wont ever go back to being run like today if his fears of that the USA will turn Russia into a free democracy like the West would be true. Which is Putins worst nightmare.
And to be honest I dont think this stance of not wanting, what you view as your enemy, on your border is something unique to Russia. I'm pretty certain the other major players in the worlds power balance like USA or China would go to war in similar circumstances. USA for instance would never allow say Mexico to form a military alliance with China, and would definitely go to war to prevent it from happening. With that said, that doesnt mean I think Russia, or China/USA, has any right to do so. Every country should have the right to decide on their own what their politic stance is and who their allies are. I condemn Russia in every way for not respecting Ukraines right to choose themselves, and for all the innocent lives they've taken, and will take, in their quest to prevent them from having that right.
I'm just stating that this is the reality of the world. If you have a 600kg killer gorilla as your neighbor you have to take how they react into consideration to every decision you make, or you might have to pay the price for not doing so. This is wrong on every level, but its the reality. For Russia, or USA/China for that matter, their own countries security is always more important than other smaller countries right to choose. And since they are the major players in the worlds power balance, less powerful countries have to adapt. This is how the world works on almost every level, from natures wild life to global politics. And for this reason, I think the world would have been a safer place if Ukraine never was given the chance to join Nato. This is just my opinion, and have no problem with people who believe something else. There is no simple solution or answer to the problem, thats why over a decade of diplomatic negotiations has failed.
My fear is that, since this, Russia would rather start a nuclear war than give up on this invasion, unless Ukraine agrees to their demands. I also fear that all these sanctions and hate (rightfully so) from the rest of the world will only strengthen the patriotism in Russia, with them seeing it as proof USA and the West really are out to get them. The people in Russia would obviously get divided with many also being against it, but with a real possibility of facing war, most people will feel patriotic rather than taking a stand against their own country, as history has shown us countless times. Especially when all of the countrys main media outlets tell you the same message through one-sided propaganda.
Seen some people here saying China need to take a stand against Russia too. To me it would be very surprising to see China taking any active stance against this war, at least against it. This since they by all accounts are planning to invade Taiwan themselves in the near future. China are also, like Russia, not a free democracy, and are in many ways more similar to Russia as a country, than the West in my opinion. Them standing up to Russia at this point would only have a negative impact on themselves when the time comes for them to try taking Taiwan back. Since that is a much higher priority for them than a war in Europe they more or less dont care about (or even agree Russias have legitimate security concerns since they themselves fear the West sooner or later will try to force them into becoming a free democracy too), they will most likely back the ones they want/need on their side in their own upcoming war.
Does this mean its dead certain Russia will eventually win the war in Ukraine? Of course not, history has also shown us that just because you have a bigger army you dont always win, and we should never underestimate the resistance from people fighting heroically for their lives and country. Just look at USA, they have more or less failed in every war they've been in since the 90s (which are a plenty). But all of these wars have been fought in other parts of the world, with the basis of spreading the political ideology that every citizen of the world has the right to live in a free democracy, rather than keeping USA safe. Every war that has been a potential threat to their own country, like WWII, they have won.
Not sure what the point of this post was, I guess I just wanted to vent some of my concerns and fears about the current situation. Not saying my thoughts are the truth or that anyone else is wrong, I obviously have no idea what will actually happen, what Putin is thinking, or how the future looks for our world, just like the rest of you. This is just how my simple mind views the current situation from the information I have available and I'm just feeling quite pessimistic about the whole situation. At the moment its easier to see more troubling times ahead, rather than the light in the end of the tunnel. At least for me.
All we do know for sure is that the war in Ukraine is horrible, and its worrying times for our planet at the moment. I just hope that Ukraine somehow ends up winning this war in the end. If I was a religious man I would pray that they do!
