I agree with the political analysis of Zelensky’s strategy, but I disagree with the title. I believe a direct war between NATO and Russia would be catastrophic for Russia. The United States alone would dominate Russia’s forces on the conventional battlefield. Yes, such a conflict would increase domestic support for Putin’s regime, but at the cost of fighting a war with a technologically superior enemy (the USA). The Russian military is advancing at a snail’s pace through Ukraine. If the US joined the fray (even just via air support) then the Russian conventional military would be annihilated.
Putin getting proven right on the world stage is inconsequential compared to getting his military getting massacred by United States’ precision munitions. If the war stays conventional (doesn’t go nuclear) then Russia loses the war. If the war goes nuclear then Russia (and the US) loses even more.
I’m not saying the US should impart a no fly zone. The US is keeping its troops from direct involvement because direct war with Russia could too easily escalate into ICBMs landing in New York.
I suppose the would-be-good-for-Putin take relies on a limited conflict with the US, which feels unlikely at best.
That Russia’s conventional armed forces is entirely outclassed in every conceivable way by the US, virtually guarantees that it wouldn’t stay conventional.
I agree with the political analysis of Zelensky’s strategy, but I disagree with the title. I believe a direct war between NATO and Russia would be catastrophic for Russia. The United States alone would dominate Russia’s forces on the conventional battlefield. Yes, such a conflict would increase domestic support for Putin’s regime, but at the cost of fighting a war with a technologically superior enemy (the USA). The Russian military is advancing at a snail’s pace through Ukraine. If the US joined the fray (even just via air support) then the Russian conventional military would be annihilated.
Putin getting proven right on the world stage is inconsequential compared to getting his military getting massacred by United States’ precision munitions. If the war stays conventional (doesn’t go nuclear) then Russia loses the war. If the war goes nuclear then Russia (and the US) loses even more.
I’m not saying the US should impart a no fly zone. The US is keeping its troops from direct involvement because direct war with Russia could too easily escalate into ICBMs landing in New York.
You are of course entirely correct.
I suppose the would-be-good-for-Putin take relies on a limited conflict with the US, which feels unlikely at best.
That Russia’s conventional armed forces is entirely outclassed in every conceivable way by the US, virtually guarantees that it wouldn’t stay conventional.