Russia - threadbanned users in OP

In my opinion, he has a stronger hold on effective propaganda than any of his predecessors, especially since 2011. Polls have shown that Russians, by a large majority, support his manufactured narratives. This is a man who openly poisons people with trademarked Russian nerve agent. His grip is extraordinary.

The average Russian seems to be either helpless (arrested if protesting) or apathetic or supports Putin. Of the two key groups, the oligarchs and the strongmen, the oligarchs have shown they are impotent, their fate is entwined with Putin's. The strongmen support the war. Maybe the economy crashing down the line will get normal Russians to wake up and risk 15 years in prison for protesting about it, but I don't know. Perhaps something in the mid-level (with the military) could happen. Not holding out any hope for either really.

Yeah but it would involve removing Russia as a permanent member, which China would not allow to happen. The UN does do good work around the world, but in these types of situations, it has bark (for global optics) but not much bite.

Maybe some new global group will emerge out of the ashes of this conflict.

We don't know if they have sorted it out, but they are moving again. There's always a chance they could be a "ruse" to deflect attention away from the south (although Kyiv is definitely a key strategic goal of Russia) but indeed I reckon they will try to make moves on Kyiv in the coming days. The Ukrainians are pulling counter-attacks, so this whole thing could be slow. The Russians seem to be terrible at doing anything fast, but are having more success taking it "slowly", however the slow approach is heavy on morale, attrition and logistics

Goes against my better judgement but I'll respond.

Sure, Russia are shouting everyone down and handing out threats to the west. But in reality, the West knows they are all bark and no bite with those threats. The west is still supplying Ukraine with state of the art weaponry by the plane load.

Make no mistake about it, Russia are struggling here. They are inching forward due to brute force but they won't be able to keep sustaining these losses. Putin thought they would have control of Kiev weeks ago. He's not even reached the city, is struggling to get control of others and when they do get control they are struggling to keep it. They are getting a little desperate, hence the increase in 'noise'.

The West cannot get into a direct conflict with Russia for very obvious reasons.

What is Russia’s end game? Even if they overcome a city, they will not be able to maintain control of it for any long period…

Also, Russian influencers crying about their lack of McD’s, designer boutiques and ‘gram is very maladroit. Hmmm, dying children in a hospital don’t know how hard those young people in Russia have it; no more Big Macs, or Louis Vuitton. Sickening!

Are all those weapons and humanitarian aid nothing?

The West is doing what it can, without blowing the whole mess into WWIII (though sadly, the Gremlin seems to have its sights further afield).

People like to bitch at the West. We are damned when we intervene and damned when we don’t

I do feel sorry on the average Russian person, who had their national wealth plundered by the Gremlin.

The ordinary people certainly didn’t start this. And it is the ordinary person who will be led to their demise.

@All_in_Flynn

Yes, although I was surprised to see Biden be so blunt about it in his latest press conference, saying a direct confrontation with Russia was WW3. I suppose the euphemism of 'further escalation' wasn't really working.

Very little Russian is spoken in the cities in the West of the country.Lviv actually would have more russian speaking than Ivano Frankivsk or Ternopil historically.

Oh god not again