Russian bear has been on edge for some time, questioning NATO's need to poke Russia in the eye. The endless conflict in Ukraine, with constant Western assistance to extend the war and undermine Russia at the expense of Ukrainian lives and damage. The further the battle lasts, the more death and damage there will be.
Has Russia Won the Battle But Lost the War?
If you listen carefully to Russian President Putin's comments, one thing becomes clear: he never desired a conflict with the West. Forget about direct confrontation; Russia's President has made it clear that conflict, even on a minor scale, is out of the question, and all he wants from Western countries (read NATO) is for them to leave Russia alone. He was not in the mindset or position to oppose the united economic, political, and military might.
According to his interviews, Russia presented no threat to the United States, but rather the opposite. The United States is still attempting to limit Russia's might and confine it on its own border.
Russia has already lost political and economic capital as a result of its disintegration; what it did in Ukraine was to rescue its honour; otherwise, Russia would be balkanized. The United States and its allies were hellbent on eradicating Russian influence, but despite their best efforts, the stage is getting tough for the American war machine to win all fights. Since its rash choice to strike Saddam Hussein's Iraq, it has repeatedly tasted defeat and lost face.
The West is gradually losing its enthusiasm for fighting wars, and the Taliban's incredible success in Afghanistan appears to be a new reminder of the United States' inevitable demise. We are addressing a time when China, despite its inherent flaws, is slowly but steadily catching up with the United States on all development metrics, and some argue has already left it behind in many areas.
The problem with the US is the ego battle with Russia, and I believe the conclusion of the Syrian war, in which Russia effectively gained a foothold while the US lost all of its friends, was the tipping point. I believe Putin made the error of celebrating his achievement too soon and too loudly, which rubbed the US ego the wrong way, resulting in the Ukraine-Russia confrontation. Russia must learn from China's method of quietly building strength while remaining amicable even with foes.
Everyone in this situation has something to learn. The West, which is mired in its own turmoil of multiculturalism and human rights lobbies, is fighting and losing a separate battle. If things continue in this direction, civil war is on the horizon, with no clear moral winner.
