This, so much. Russia has acted like a bully, look at the level of destruction they have wrought in Ukraine, it's unforgivable behaviour.
While I believe they had certain reasons to stop Ukraine from going pro-NATO and stopping them from attacking Donbass,
this whole invasion was a big mistake. A big blunder. It was as if they had no clear target or strategy. In the end,all they did was alienate Ukrainians even more. It's clear now that this government has to change. And change from the inside. Incompetence and corruption have showed and they had been continuing this with little clear target other than saving face,probably.
You know I'm
generally pro-Russian,not always and definetely not as Apollon thinks,but this whole war was a wrong move. They could have just protected or retook the whole of Donbass and end it there and go to negotiations for Ukraine to become a neutral country etc.
Now though,it's obvious that Putin can't stay or if he wants to stay,he has to change a lot of things. And himself too.
On the other hand,the West has shown gigantic russophobia and idiotic behavior with all the sanctions,from trade and individual's assets to even banning sales of PC games to Russian and Belarussian people to even not letting Russians in some stores in Western countries.
This madness will only worsen the way Russians and Belarussians view the West and make Westerners despise Russians even more,after all this propaganda.
In the end,the warhawks in NATO and specifically USA and Britain,started a new Cold War and Putin and his government have displeased a big part of their own people,army and allies.