• OrteilGenou@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    That’s great and all, but mostly it’s keeping one of their largest geopolitical rivals tied up in a war that saps their strength at relatively small cost.

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Multiple things can be true. And we’re hardly keeping them tied up in a war when they can unilaterally withdraw and end the war. If they don’t want to end up in a protracted, hopeless war, they can stop at any time.

      • OrteilGenou@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Well that’s the thing, they can, but unless leadership changes, they won’t. Can’t be a strongman if you appear weak, so Putin has kind of cornered himself

        • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          And this is after he was given several off ramps. He could’ve withdrawn before the invasion and just said Western intelligence was paranoid. I believe Macron tried to talk him down too.