Anyone else thinking that this war will go on for years.? For sure the Russians cannot lose. They will control towns and cities and ultimately Kyiv. However if the bulk of the population do not want to be ruled by Moscow, then guerrilla war will be the order of the day for years maybe decades.
"For sure the Russians cannot lose." ergo you say that they will win .
Win what ?
Defeat the second biggest country in Europe with a population of 41 million people who vehemently do not wish to be Russian by using what ..circa 200 K troops that need to be R&R'd . Install a Police service akin to the one in Russia ...how many personel, and cost would that require .... for ever ?
And all the time each and every Ukrainian man and woman who can hold breath and an automatic assault weapon or Javalin is stood around every corner full of venom and hatred for what they have had stolen from them .
Never .
And as for Russia .
Their Military strategy and weaponary has been shown to be less than second rate and a significant % their soldiers lacking the will to fight on foreign soil.
The populace has become used to and familiar with western goods and a lifestyle to match . Some may yearn for the old USSR but I'd wager that a majority would prefer our lifestyle .
Human nature will kick in and alert their sixth sense that something is not quite right when they are shunned by the West and told that they face 15 years in prison if they do not echo the sentiments of the Presidents office .
And as for Putin , what will he have won when he is shunned by nearly all the civilised countries of the world , prevented from travelling freely and most likely being accused of war crimes and having a warrant issued for his arrest .
He will also see that his actions have actually galvanised the West into recognising Russia for what it actually is under his control , a unwelcome guest at the dinner table .
The cabal that surround him will watch their lifestyle collapse like a house of cards , be trapped in their motherland and having to drive or take the train to travel as all aircraft will be grounded due to non availability of parts and info.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg .
Yeah , that's a win .
