At this point I would support deployment of a NATO peacekeeping force up to the current lines of contact minus some arbitrary buffer (10 miles, 20 miles, whatever). Given the absolutely barbaric behavior of the Russian invaders I don’t think we can allow a second push to occur in good conscience. If they’re going to launch nukes it won’t be because of this - they’ll manufacture a reason if that’s what they plan on doing. But this is crimes against humanity level shit.
We owe the Ukrainians a debt of gratitude for this. You just know that Putin and Xi had already planned how they were going to capitalize on the “quick victory”. No more axis of evil.
Other than shelling Mariupol into the ground, is Russia actually gaining ground anywhere in the country right now? I know we are biased to pro-Ukraine news but it really seems like they are being pushed back along every front right now. The best news I have read is that tank production (and presumably, other armored vehicle production) is completely shut down meaning they can’t replace any of these equipment losses.
Between the officers getting killed on the frontline and the ones getting purged at home, the Russian army is going to be led by NCOs pretty soon whether they like it or not.
Putin going full purge less than a month into the invasion tells you pretty much everything you need to know. They’ll be so busy executing “traitors” that Ukraine will be an afterthought pretty soon.
China sees an opportunity to exploit Russia for its natural resources for the next 50 years. They don’t maximize that opportunity by bailing Russia out. They’re going to let them lose the war. Next time Russia comes asking for help, they’re REALLY going to need it.