PeroK said:
I believe we owe a huge debt to the Ukrainians. If Russia had rolled over Ukraine and they were marching today in the streets of Kyiv bearing posters of the little dictator, then there's every chance Russia would have struck west immediately, before Nato had time to think.
At the very least they have shattered any delusions that Putin and his supporters have that they could roll through Eastern Europe and establish a new Russian empire.
If the Russian people, politicians and military commanders are willing to take a stand against Putin, I've yet to see it. A few thousand brave souls have been arrested of course, but the vast majority of 140 million for one reason or other seem incapable of acting against him.
Well finally I can say I for once fully agree with your whole comment, Zelensky might overestimate some figures to give his fighters more motivation but one thing I take him at his word is that "Ukrainians are now fighting the battle which could have happened elsewhere in Europe"
Ukraine serves as a lightning rod, sadly of course.
I think that two major factors also save the day currently,
1) Russia apparently due to whatever reasons (I suspect corruption and vodka to some level) had overestimated the combat readiness of their 20 year old average school boy obligatory military service conscripts, they so far have underperformed heavily, and understandably they have low motivation to fight fellow Slavic people.
2) Russia (and the whole world truth be told) apparently underestimated the hatred Ukrainians have for Russia and how ready they are to fight.I mean we can only speculate how far Putin would have gone if he were able to roll through Ukraine easily, thankfully due to this operation going longer NATO has the time to now assemble troops and weapons that arguably should have been here a long time ago, but at least if there is one good thing from all of this is that European leaders as well as NATO hopefully have no more illusions as to what they are facing.
Looking towards the future I am not that optimistic that Russians will now rise up as one and do the right thing and give birth to democracy or something resembling it. I could argue my points here but then I would again be irritating to some most likely and would have to come back and apologize again so let me not make that mistake.
My only concern is this -if the whole Ukraine deal goes south and Russia does suffer defeat , if they don't change their thinking and government to a large degree then they could come back years later but this time much better prepared...
And don't tell me there aren't examples of such in history. I recall the terrorists who bombed the WTC in New York in 1993, came back differently in 2001 but this time finished the job and got a result they themselves probably didn't even hope for.
People learn from their mistakes, evil people do the same, the result? They don't become nicer, just wiser in their evil deeds.