If this new general, the Butcher of Syria, really has orders for a scorched earth withdrawal, I think that the Russians are living in a dream world where they can just throw up their hands and say, "no harm done".
Ukraine will continue to be fed arms from the West, and will continue to get top notch intel. If Russia falls into Donbas, and Ukraine sets up a defensive perimetre there, I can see Europe offering all of it's strategic know-how into Ukraine retaking Crimea, and denying Russia it's deep water port on the Black Sea.
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"By Grabthar's hammer ... what a savings."
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