Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Interesting point in video, that the West recognizing Putin, is what is giving Putin legitimacy amongst the Russian people, and that for years, through many fake elections he has been recognized and allowed to act as President globally by the West.

I suppose if for arguments sake he says comes out with 95% votes for him and then he can go around and declare full mobilisation and state 95% of the people are with me and want me to do this. Probably feels at the beginning of his re-election he is at his most powerful and can get away with anything then (he is anyway but I say more so he can then) , also probably shows to the west, hey look I'm here the next 6 years and this is 6 years more that I will continue on in Ukraine. Are you the West when I ramp up everything more to take Ukraine after I win this election willing to go all out for the next 6 years.

I don't want to be speak for everyone on the West, but I thought the sense here was that he intends to hang on to power until he's dead. If that's the case, I don't think he needs to show the West that, especially as there seems to also be a widespread assumption that Russian presidential elections are a bit of a sham, made all the more so with Navalny dead and Kara Murza in prison.

He has hesitated to announce full mobilisation for two years. I cannot say he won't in future, but I don't think it's an election thing. He must know on some level what revolt that could bring, and of the decentralised kind where mobs are burning recruitment offices out in the provinces.

Saw that in the guardian. A lot of speculation, maybe she's right, maybe not. In the early months of the war there were constant rumours of mass mobilization and it never happened. I'd be surprised if it happens soon after the election, we'll soon see

Another day, another report of Russian war crimes

No not at all, please don’t mix me up with a Russian bot apologist.

I am more emphasising the point that Putin is going nowhere regardless of whether the people of Russia ever do turn on him so I doubt he cares about victories before an election etc as he will never hold a legitimate one anyway.

I find it saddening amongst aquantances and others here in Ireland during discussions re Russia invasion of Ukraine how sort of indifferent, disinterested they are about it. It seems to be a distance thing. We are far away over here, an Island off the west coast of Europe .. shur why would anybody attack us and shur we are neutral. It will never effect us.

I find it incredible actually. Seems to be far more interest in whats happening in Gazza vs a war raging on our continent. A large disconnect. A few do ask - Oh yeah the war in Ukraine, when will it be over and when will the Ukrainians here go home?

All are unaware of whats going on on the ground and the difficulties that now are happening re arming Ukraine + Russian advances though small. They just never seem to have understood the huge real danger in all of this for all of us inc Ireland and not just Ukraine. And how fast this could unravel, especially in 2024/25

Lets go slightly down the rabbit hole. I previously mentioned delays with F16s and the like, asking why. Then we have the hold ups in the USA. Now here is another albeit smaller delay example:

"The delivery of 100 Bulgarian armored personnel carriers to Ukraine has been delayed as the Bulgarian Defense Ministry asks NATO to cover the transport costs, Euractiv reported on Feb. 20, citing Bulgarian lawmakers and officials."

Part of me is entertaining that there are forces in the background in the WEST, EU and NATO etc that actually want UKRAINE to fail and for Russia to win the day? I have been in discussions with some where the attitude is, Ukraine cannot win this war, Russia is the superpower here, too big to fail. And in certain corridors in Europe some may want Ukraine to fail, russia to win as it may hold off Russia attack on Europe "Proper" for another good while ( Appease )

Anyway there is your rabbit in the hole ..

They don't want Ukraine to fail they just want this war to drag out as long as possible. They'd rather Ukraine win after 6 year's of fighting instead of 3 as it inflicts way more damage on Russia and cripples them economically for longer.

Sad to say here but if the west we're really all in they're would be 100 more HIMARS, 200 Ukrainian pilot's already flying F35's, hundreds more artillery, Taurus, ATACMs, American attack heli's and a thousand of Abrams and Leopards.

Instead they'll drip feed weapons and the rate will depend on how well Ukraine is doing. At the very least with full support Ukraine would have retaken the south by now and cut off Crimea.