If we’re going to be perpetually stymied by Putin having nuclear weapons, then we’re basically saying, “go ahead Putin, fill your boots”
There comes a point where we have to call his bluff. It seems arbitrary to sit and watch one country being destroyed and wait for him to invade the next one before acting.
I honestly hope that the sanctions placed on Russia either bring him back from this madness, or the Russians decide they’d like to present themselves to the world as a sane nation of intelligent people, and replace their own leadership.
Problem is, he’s possibly not well, he’s spent decades subjugating his own people, and has his own private army. I can’t see a mechanism by which he ever steps down voluntarily. Even if he does, what’s to stop another fully indoctrinated West-hating FSB/SVR talking head from just popping out the woodwork and taking his place.
As much as Jolly Red Giant did indulge in a colossal quantity of whataboutery, I suspect he’s right that only a mass movement of people inside Russia who are prepared to die to bring about change can enact a genuine change in leadership and Russia’s outlook. Even then, there’s no guarantee that their outlook would necessarily be friendlier toward the West, but it would give us the chance to build bridges.
