drkohler said: Now Putin (he's not dumbat all) uses the second method, terror against the population. There is no question time will wear down the Ukranian army and population, and more and more people will flee. If anyone thinks those Ukranians left behind are all heroes and will go into a taliban-style warfare, no, that is not going to happen. And suppressing whole nations is pretty much a hobby of the Russian rulers. Simply and steadily destroying the Ukranian infrastructure reduces own losses and basically empties the attacked country over time. Unless a coup happens in Moscow (and it isn't clear what would happen after that), Putin can destroy the Ukrania with whatever methods he wishes. Sad but factual. The only counter argument to impress Putin is brutal force. There are ways to do that. None are nice. Economical warfare? Putin doesn't bother for a few Russian bank being shut down. He has connections to over 40 African banks that do his trades. And there are too many countries that are deppendent on Russian wheat and gas/oil.. |
Surpressing a nation the size of Ukraine is a lot to chew for anybody. And it most certainly isn't a hobby for Russia. Putin has never seen a war on this scale, he's been bullying small nations or rebel/terrorists forces, not always with great success either.
Ukraine has over 40 million people. You don't need everyone to stay, hell you couldn't even arm everyone, to go guerrilla warface or keep fighting. Russia will need plenty more boots to occupy Ukraine and it'll be costly. Even then they might not succeed and time is not on their side either.
And at this moment Putin is not in position to destroy Ukraine whatever methods he wishes. Mariupol perhaps, but I don't think anything else is logistically possible right now tactical nukes excluded but I doubt it.
Funny you say Putin isn't dumb (I agree he isn't) and then say Putin thinks African banks are going to save his ass :D nah, Russia's agriculture has been dependant on imports, so is their industry. Global businesses are leaving. Economy crashing, army and people need to get fed and paid. If Ukraine won't be able to farm land it'll mean less wheat for Russia too you know.. Time is not on Putin's side and the longer this goes on, the longer it'll take for Russia to climb back up.
I don't know why some people suggest these sanctions are useless or that Putin saw them coming. FFS even the West didn't see them coming!