Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Not joining NATO is being defenceless though. Russia could repeat its invasion whenever it wants.

Unfortunately, that 500,000 figure is entirely doable. The Russian military number 1.1 million. The goons you see who are suppressing all protests and civil 'complaints and such, number about 2.2 million, so Russia already has roughly equivalent numbers of social suppressors in Russia itself.

I heard a joke which I think went something like: 'In Russia, you are free to protest, but the authorities are free to stop you.'

I'd agree with this.

Putin fucked up big time.

If he had of actually done his special operation, the funny thing is, the west may have given him **** but he probably would have got a pass.

I can see Zelinskyy giving them the 2 statelets and Crimea, but not disarming. I could also see Vlad accepting that, knowing what he can expect the next time (and there will be a next time) he goes in.

That's the idea , Ukraine won't need an army because Russian peace keepers will be permanently based in Ukraine to protect Ukraine from foreign aggression

Edit: This post was in response to someone suggesting Russia easily had the manpower needed to conquer and police Ukraine post-victory.

It's not doable financially or politically though even if the logistics could be sorted. Committing to a multi-year war, enormous casualties, while your economy is being hammered and your country is being reduced to a pariah state....all while knowing ultimately, you will end up withdrawing anyway.

It's not workable or feasible for Russia. Putin rolled the dice on a war that would last a few days, a short, sharp strike. It hasn't happened, he's already lost locally and on the world stage with the Russian armed forces shown up badly.

All he's trying to do now is save face and punish Ukraine before an agreement is reached. A military defeat and occupation of Ukraine would require collossal military resources and personnel that Russia 100% does not have to commit.

A 4th Su-34 has been visually confirmed as a loss for the Russian's. That means they have lost around $160 million (USD) just on these 4 jets. All Because they are too cheap to use guided munitions (if they even have any)

Your post read " Show them the map ( of Ireland I presume ) and how that worked out for Ireland, and I replied that the Ukrainians are quite capable of working out what they want themselves, and I'm pretty sure that being subjugated by Russia in any shape or form ( Irish Solution) is not acceptable .....quite the opposite, in fact. And they are prepared to die rather than submit. Slava Ukraine.

That's my point. You're advocating the risking of millions of lives based on "I don't think..." Given the possible consequences, that's not terribly convincing.

I'd agree with that too, I think Putin made an awful tactical blunder actually invading Ukraine his greatest bargaining chip was the "Threat" of invasion and propaganda videos showing the fire power they d face if they did invade.

If the Nazis couldn't subdue population s completely in the 1940s and they were beyond ruthless Russia hasn't a snowballs chance in hell of subdueing western backed population that are freedom fighters.

Russia is going to come out of this extremely bloodied, I think it's a matter of time before Putin is forced back to the negotiation table and the big one will be Ukraine not to join NATO but seeing as they have weathered the worst the Russians have to offer they should stay the course it's a guaranteed win at this stage they merely have to persevere to win now.

It's doubtful Putin would ever accept such peacekeepers

The "agreement" would give Putin carte blanche to strike Ukraine with cruise missiles whenever he wanted citing whatever manufactured "violations" he wanted. He gets to legitimize stealing their territory. There would be a Russian puppet in control. The country would be a completely vassal state at the mercy of an aggressive military power, who will almost certainly be invading them at a later stage (just doing it correctly next time when they've actually learned how to do modern combined arms wars)

Just to point out, not everyone is the Azov battalion is a neo-Nazi. They have neo-Nazis among them, but it's not the whole lot.

When the invasion began and was being widely described as Putin's personal war, I naively hoped that men of conscience within the Kremlin might step forward to unwind the whole thing, with Putin placed under house arrest (or suffering a massive heart attack), but as the days go on, I'm starting to think that the people in the inner circle are as bold and vicious as Putin is. I suppose, you have to be to earn your place in that circle. I know some of the connections go back to the 70's (jobs for the boys as it were) but reading up about them at the weekend, and if what I read is true, it's quite a rogues gallery that is administering this war...