[Mick]

I am terribly dismayed by what is yet to come, and am beginning to wonder if it is realistic to believe that the war can be contained.

On this we agree. I don't think Putin wants NATO or the US to become directly involved, but he absolutely must win and win pretty quickly. Time is not his friend here. He also must trade off what actions he takes vs the probability of a wider war, just as NATO/US/EU must. Real dangerous situation, because it is real easy for either side to go too far. If Putin uses sarin or something similar, what will the US/NATO do? I don't know, and I don't want to find out. Hopefully Putin feels the same way.

I wonder if Putin thinks the sanctions will disappear once he's installed a Ukrainian puppet and the Ukrainians wage an ongoing guerilla war?

[Mick]

I am terribly dismayed by what is yet to come, and am beginning to wonder if it is realistic to believe that the war can be contained.

On this we agree. I don't think Putin wants NATO or the US to become directly involved, but he absolutely must win and win pretty quickly. Time is not his friend here. He also must trade off what actions he takes vs the probability of a wider war, just as NATO/US/EU must. Real dangerous situation, because it is real easy for either side to go too far. If Putin uses sarin or something similar, what will the US/NATO do? I don't know, and I don't want to find out. Hopefully Putin feels the same way.

I wonder if Putin thinks the sanctions will disappear once he's installed a Ukrainian puppet and the Ukrainians wage an ongoing guerilla war?