Putin Has No Good Options Left; There Is No Good Endgame For Russia

[L. Coyote]

The Morning Joe panel discusses the latest developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including new attacks on the western city of Lviv and declining morale among Russian forces.

[RKP5637]

1. I do hope if/when/how this ends that the sanctions against Russia remain!!! n/t

[magicguido]

2. The people around Putin now have the obligation to rid the country of this Dangerous Monster.

[paleotn]

3. It's like whacking a hornet's nest...

thinking that if you whack it hard enough and long enough the hornets will cower and give up. Anyone who's dealt with hornets knows, that is most certainly NOT the case. They just get madder. Another gross miscalculation if Putin thinks killing civilians will break Ukraine's will to fight. The Russians learned nothing from Afghanistan.

[L. Coyote]

4. .... yep.

[Warpy]

5. There is only one way for Putin to save face at this point

and right now, that's what this is all about.

The diplomats need to get into it. An agreement to keep Ukraine out of NATO and completely neutral, at least for a limited period of time (Putin's lifespan) needs to be obtained. Russia can then claim victory, Putin will get his parade, and it will be over except for the grief and the rebuilding.

I keep seeing "progress on the diplomatic front," so perhaps a few clearer heads in Russia will prevail and something like this will be achieved.

There is no way Russia can win this, even had they been better prepared for this kind of war. While throwing everything they have at Ukraine will take the country, there is no way they can keep it. The small wars over the last century should tell them why.

[L. Coyote]

6. Ukraine's constitution conflicts with Putin's demands. That's a conundrum because

in a democracy you need to democratically alter a constitution, you cannot do that at a negotiating table.

Link to tweet

[Warpy]

7. They'd have to agree not to hold a vote to join, say, for 10 years

and I think that would do the trick.

Remember, a pledge not to join for a specific period is not the same as a pledge never to join, the latter would require a vote.

[Stuart G]

8. Putin's Best Option: Withdraw Now from Ukraine, before the "Generals "...

do something very bad to you.., and after you withdraw, move to Siberia. or move to an empty ranch with lots of
kangaroos in Australia.

...In both instances you might survive to live to be a very old man.