The original aims - all on Russian sites - were to cut Ukraine off from the sea and occupy the east from the Deneiper to the Russian border. No fly warnings were lodged until 8 March in the east and the rest of Ukraine until the first week of May, when the Russians expected it all to be over. They also had their 24 point list of "demands", which included Russian bases in Ukraine, amongst many others which were to be imposed. He had the Crimea and the west did nothing, but that's back on the table now. There is no way that th west can start trading with Russia again until Ukraine is happy with a peace deal and that will NOT include giving away Crimea. Putin is defeated, but he just doesn't know it.
Crimea I think it'll stay with Russia but it depends how talks go and what's agreed upon, I suppose until more details emerge.
Rest I agree with you, and you know what I like that, I like a wounded bear as I said many times I don't think Russia would have done this without tactic approval of the Chinese. The Chinese in my opinion used Russia to test the waters they will study this and insulate themselves in the eventuality they have to go to war, while keeping the European theater open. Having a wounded bear that's a hot iron on European borders in my opinion is a good thing from a Pakistani stand point, and they'll have to deal with this long-term.
As for the Russians they will regroup and rearm. They are known to hold grudges and get revenge down the road. In a way this war was a blessing as well for them, they now know they have to clean house in the rank and file, the purge will be brutal almost Stalin like.
One aspect of this conflict which we forget is the media. It's portrayal of European life versus "The Rest" didn't play out well and it's effect will be long lasting on the Russian population and "The Rest", and it was about time these inner feelings were let out. You should have seen the Polish MP today it brought a smile to my face the more he talked. Cold War like Russian-phobia, Islamophobia and Sinophobia this couldn't have gotten any better than this.
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