Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[shavenferret]

Zkuq said:

Chazore said:

Remember when that PMC turned around and decided to march up to Putin's door and then Putin conveniently bailed before they could reach the capital?, that's how easy it would be. 

The thing I'm weary about is Putin himself. Soldiers can give up and leave/surrender, but Putin, he's the type that doesn't like to lose (he's about as mad as Stalin). 

To be honest, I don't really care what happens with Putin. I mean, I wish only the worst for him, but someone like him or even worse is just going to take his place anyway unless something changes more profoundly within Russia. It's actually scary that he might be one of the less problematic people that could be leading Russia, since he seems to be wary and even indecisive in his moves. What he's brilliant at is consolidating his power, but I haven't seen much else where he actually excels at.

I think that Putin's legacy will be defined by Ukraine and he'll be judged quite negatively for the enormous amount of deaths that have occurred in order to take the country, regardless how much territory he gains in the end.  

I imagine that the West will try to influence Russia from within to make the country more democratic, and to give the people more of a voice, so that fewer situations like this happen.