Putin seems like the type who won't take failure well

[intrepidity]

I think he may be realizing now that he grossly miscalculated how the world would react to his aggression.

The question is: what next??

Does he go full-in, damn the torpedoes, and do something completely outrageous involving nukes? My guess is that he'd be neutralized by his own people if he went that far. But who knows?

Does he somehow adopt a contrite attitude and apologetically back down? (lol, as if)

My bet will be he'll do it all with pure propaganda: blatant lies about how he won and everything went according to his brilliant plan.

And what about all the sanctions etc -- do they just cease if he withdraws? I hope not. Even if he withdrew everything today, the sanctions must be permanent, else he's free to try again (like TFG).

[ck4829]

1. A lot of people better stay away from windows and watch their tea

[NightWatcher]

2. Call me weird but many thought trump was copyting putin, but it looks like putin is turning into tfg

He's erratic, not taking advice, making poor choices with severe consequences.....


sounds trumpy to me.


I hope his opposition is gunning for him now. the World is about to turn on russia more than ever before.

[fierywoman]

3. The oligarchs need to stage an intervention: send Pootie to a sanatorium.

[BlueIdaho]

4. The sanctions must stay on Russia

Until there is a decapitation and a re-organization from the top down. It could take years - but the sanctions must stay on.

[Ocelot II]

5. Think about how TFG has reacted to failure.

Putin will probably do pretty much the same things - pretend nothing went wrong; it's all fake news; if something did go wrong it was somebody else's fault; the bad things he is accused of doing were really done by his adversaries; same old same old.

[intrepidity]

7. Yep, that's what I see too

As mentioned up thread, I think Putin secretly envied how much TFG got away with and is trying to up his own game by emulating TFG. And Putin started off really, really bad already!

[mitch96]

14. "My bet will be he'll do it all with pure propaganda: blatant lies"

Roll back to the border and say he did what he set out to do and protect "russian interests"
Like TFG.. save face at all costs..
ymmv
m

[SallyHemmings]

6. Declare victory and call your troops home

Maybe that will put an end to this tragedy. My God, how long will those poor people from Ukraine recover from his quest?

[intrepidity]

8. Well, the silver lining might be expedited entrance to NATO

and as whole slew of Western support! High price to pay. They *must* get enormous support in return.

[spanone]

9. The ultimate nightmare scenario...a mad man alone against the world...with a huge nuclear arsenal

[intrepidity]

10. I hope he doesn't have the sole "button" nt

[mitch96]

16. +1 I hope cooler minds prevail...nt

[RKP5637]

11. Putin and Trump are cut from the same piece of cloth, and an ugly one at that!

Putin has already warned Sweden and Finland to stay out of his way ... he told them they can't join NATO or there will be serious repercussions (he will invade them too.) My take, fuck Putin. I think NATO must take serious action against Putin. This is going to be Putin's song, "do what I say, I have nukes." Will he say this about any country ... when is Poland, for example, next. It's clear he wants to recreate the USSR and he doesn't mind grabbing Europe in the process. This guy is the 21st century Hitler, and I am not exaggerating!

[Wingus Dingus]

12. If I were Zelensky, I would offer Putin a guarantee of staying neutral/not joining

NATO in exchange for Russia leaving Ukraine, respecting its borders and sovereignty, and not interfering in its administration and governance. Ukraine needs to hold on to its independence and avoid destruction and bloodshed, and Russia needs to realize they done fucked up, yet still be able to back down while saving face. Disputed territory can be put to referendums (with international watchers) as needed.

[intrepidity]

13. Yeah, wasn't that what happened in 2014?

Putin cannot be trusted, period.

[Wingus Dingus]

15. He didn't try to take the whole country--

he got into a situation now that is really bad, not just for Ukraine and Russia but for the world. He will not handle humiliation well, especially if he's as mentally unstable as suggested. Sometimes buying peace and time (for Russia to get rid of him for good, however that has to happen) is the best way.

[Silent3]

17. Three options: Escalate, claim victory and go home, get ousted

I'm really hoping the odds of getting ousted are growing.

The big problems with Putin getting ousted I see are:

1) I'm sure Putin is well protected and everyone close to him is afraid to betray him no matter what they think of him.
2) The oligarchs like their power and wealth. Even if Putin is hurting their power and wealth now, they will only want to replace Putin with someone who will perpetuate their kelptocracy. They certainly don't want to replace Putin with any (small-d) democrat.