nuclear war

[Sekwo]

The sanctions are not working on Russia. Most are used to a low life style and the rich can just buy in what they want. It is the West that are suffering from the sanctions. Look at how much everything has gone up all over Europe. Gas prices, electrickery, food. It isn't all down to Ukraine but we will be the ones that give up first.

Russia is still selling its gas, albeit at a reduced rate and it is suffering but suffering seems to be a Russian way of life. It isn't for the West.

Indeed, it is clear Putin was amongst the hawks in Russia, who wanted Russia to encourage even more use of its own products. So, e.g. he wanted Russians to buy Russian civilian planes, but he was assured that "we can rely on the west". So, now Putin is able to push for even more support for Russian products from aeroplanes to operating systems. The west has played right into his hands, and far from undermining Russia, they've given Russia the impetus to produce alternative products to sell to the rest of the world and so undermine the US monopoly in many high tech sectors (such as planes and operating systems).

I don't think Putin is in any hurry to win a war, that is doing the west so much damage.