| Metallox said: So Finland is smoothing the process for NATO application, diplomacy is apparently pushing Germany and Italy to accept the removal of Russia from SWIFT and the RF failed to secure its key objectives in the first hours of the invasion; prospect of a long war is looking more likely. |
We'll see. Putin is not a stupid man, but that doesn't mean he is thinking rationally, either. It's possible that he genuinely believed that Ukraine would fold more quickly. He's not used to being balked. He also probably hoped that he would be able to appeal to Russian nationalism to shore up support for his regime, which doesn't seem to be the case.
I'm also wondering what the thoughts in China are. My concern is that they will try to take advantage of the Ukraine situation by making a play for Taiwan.
