Sweden to Apply for NATO Membership
So let's recount what Putin has achieved in the last 3 months:<p>1. Failed to conquer all of Ukraine;<p>2. Failed to capture Kyiv;<p>3. Failed to make meaningful gains in the Donbass;<p>4. Failed to decapitate Ukraine's leadership;<p>5. Suffered huge casulaties;<p>6. Done massive damage to the perception of Russia's military (and thus the power it can project);<p>7. Done more for NATO solidarity than probably anything else in the last 20 years when previous to this, there wasn't a lot as much fervour for NATO;<p>8. Prompted Finland and Sweden to join NATO when previously they were happy being neutral;<p>9. Russia is now subject to broad sanctions where previously Europe was looking to increase gas dependence on Russia (eg Nord Stream 2).<p>So Putin has quite literally achieved nothing. A lot of this was foreseeable too, which is why many (including myself) thought Putin wouldn't invade.<p>The question now is what is Putin's state of mind? Is he aware of the true position (as in, is he getting accurate assessments and intelligence or just "yes men")? Does he still think he can "win"? What does "winning" even look like now? A rational person would be looking for a face-saving exit (think "mission accomplished"). I thought that might be occupying the Donbass and negotiating for some autonomy for the region but even that is starting to look out of reach.<p>My concern is that someone cornered like this after making such a huge gamble at terrible cost is capable of doing something even more awful.