The media and Putin keep alluding to the Ukraine joining NATO as an issue. First, Ukraine did not even have that thought in mind back in 2014 when they took Crimea and Donbas(sp). Secondly, even if the Ukraine desired to join NATO, it's not an overnight thing. It would be years down the road likely before they are brought into NATO.
Putin is 70. A stone cold killer. One not to be taken lightly. Especially with his comments about restoring the old Russian empire. Who is next? The Baltic nations? Would he keep rolling right into Poland and etc? Putin is former KGB and Spetnatz. He isn't afraid at loss of life. Dude is a scary fella. Heck, even the Taliban issued a statement asking for peace. They know, Putin might pick up where Breshnev failed in trying to take Afghanistan.
We have Grampa Joe barely able to finish sentences and Russia saw this. We all saw this. I get the reluctance to have boots on the ground and honestly I don't want Americans there personally, but we also need to quit abounding countries like the Ukraine. It's similar to what we did with Afghanistan and even Vietnam. Giving countries a false sense of security by assuring we have their backs.
Even scarier, when does China move on Taiwan? Imagine the tag team of China and Russia pushing for world domination. It sounds in a sense far fetched, but any more, anything is possible.
The world needs to get on the same page. Sanctions that take "months"? Tell that to the people of Ukraine that could have days or weeks. SWIFT expulsion for Russia has been tossed around and that would be a huge blow to them, but you have countries in Europe who have hedged at it because of their reliance on Russian oil. So I guess they need to get off the pot or shit. The idea that sacrificing Ukraine for oil is very naive in my opinion. You cannot guarantee that Russia will stop at the Ukraine. And if Ukraine falls, the Reds are on Europe's door step. We're back to 1939 all over again.
Russia has the numbers, the guns, the tanks and etc. But one question I have, is their military tech toe to toe with the West? I don't think Blitzkrieg 2.0 went quite as smooth as Putin thought. Some of that is Ukraine is salty and dug in. Some I think is some of the West's contribution of weapons and technology. But at the end of the day, if something doesn't happen quickly, I think the Ukraine will fall.
I also don't think it's completely about territory or positioning. The Ukraine is called the "Breadbasket" for a reason. Grain exports are Top 5 in the world. Many precious metals and ores are rich there. Natural gas and etc. And yes, it's location to the Black Sea is very strategic to Russia also.
In part, I don't think Putin truly realized the amount of resistance. Even if he topples the current regime there, I think it will be years of resistance and fighting. This will be costly no matter. If sanctions continue, it could have a longer affect on Russia, but I don't think Putin is in this for the long game.