“Putin has overplayed his hand.”
“Russia is cornered.”
Well there you go, all who said that have never played or even know how to play chess. Even if you did, the player knows his moves and always keeps his options.
Anyway, now that Donbass has announced it’s independence the ball is in NATOs court. If any country Ukraine has felt this cut deep to the bone. I can imagine Ukraine attacking Donbass region backed by NATO as a miscalculation and take the fall. So could be a war where russia supports one side and US and NATO the other. But that is just dat dreaming honestly, it is for west to decide how to act. West after all feels it too.
Boris keeps on saying a step closer or pre-condition for Russian attack. Maybe if Ukraine goes for donbass to claim it then NATO might tell Russia to keep out or yes i know sanctions.
Politically, these regions would have never accepted US stooges in Kiev. So really the ball is in wests court how they take it is all yet to be seen.