Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
I think even the most pro-Ukrainian people understand the situation Ukraine is in. No one denies that 15% of Ukraine is now occupied by Russia or that the war is devastating to Ukraine. The point is that Russia isn't "winning" either. Ukraine has inflicted a higher magnitude of casualties against Russia and prevented them from reaching their original war objectives, all while also watching Russia destroy their economy. I would argue that the fight they put up possibly prevented Russia from taking other European territories in the near future. If Ukraine would have rolled over, I think it is very likely that we would currently be talking about Russian aggression on a different country right now, but Ukraine has pretty much made this impossible... for now at least.
As much as I hate to say it, a post-war Ukraine may not recover all of their lost territory which sucks big time. Even Zelenskyy has been preparing Ukrainians for the possibility that will have to accept that Russia will maintain control over the occupied areas for the foreseeable future if there is going to be an end to the war. But if or when this ends and Ukraine successfully defended 85% of their territory and affirms their sovereignty against a country everyone thought would walk right over them, it won't be a total loss. It is kind of like how Finland stood up to the USSR in WW2. They had to cede territory but it probably also ensured their overall survival as an independent nation.
There is also the possibility that a post-Putin Russia one day will return some territory.
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I think economic collapse will come for Russia. We won't see a 1917 style revolution, but Putin's power comes from his ability to keep the oligarchs rich.
If this war tanks the economy, they will have no use for him and there will be a regime change (might be violent, might not be).
The new regime won't give a #### about Donbas/Crimea, and Ukraine should be able to retake it.
This scenario might take years to play out though.