Re:Finland will seek NATO membership immediately
by therouwboat on Thursday May 12, 2022 @06:00AM
(#31351593)
Nobody wants war, but we also don't want to be part of Russia.
Putin can de-escalate this anytime and "losing" doesnt make him seem any worse than starting a war, killing tens of thousands and making millions flee their homes.
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Re:Finland will seek NATO membership immediately
by denton-scratch on Thursday May 12, 2022 @11:40AM
(#31355754)
> Putin can de-escalate this anytime
I wish I believed that. His credibility depends entirely on his ability to threaten (to poison his opponents, to flatten cities). He's a strong man, and he can't afford to be seen to back down.
Here's the only off-ramp I can see working:
"Mr. Putin, you can keep your yachts and your offshore wealth; you won't be pursued for warcrimes. But you must exile yourself from Russia, and never darken the world stage again."
I don't think Putin would accept that deal; he'd rather go down with his ship. He thinks he's Peter The Great.