https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/11/30/putin-seems-to-be-winning-the-war-in-ukraine-for-now
His biggest asset is Europe’s lack of strategic vision
Crucially, he is undermining the conviction in the West that Ukraine can—and must—emerge from the war as a thriving European democracy.
Putin is cynically using the fact that Ukraine is refusing to hold elections and has banned dozens of political parties to make Ukraine seem undemocratic.
The West could do a lot more to frustrate Mr Putin. If it chose, it could deploy industrial and financial resources that dwarf Russia’s.
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[Putin] now tells Russians, absurdly, that they are locked in a struggle for survival against the West.
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Europe must, therefore, plan for Mr Putin as the main long-term threat to its security.
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Weapons matter, especially air defences and long-range missiles to strike at Russian supply lines,
How absurd for Russians to view the west as a threat.
It's been fairly obvious from the beginning the Russia would win. I was not expecting the US / European proxy war, but interest in funding and supporting that is disappearing too.
Ukraine cannot win without support, and Ukraine is losing support.