[graphpercolator]

This is a video game view of war though. As if the authoritarian has a video game controller that lets the video game characters do as the authoritarian pleases.

This has nothing to do with the reality of the Russian military on the ground.

Surely, the Iraq invasion was over so fast exactly because so much of the Iraq military did not want to die to defend Saddam Husein.

The will to fight is so asymmetrical in Ukraine. Surely, the Russian military is not oblivious to what the world thinks of this. So one side is willing to die to defend their country and the other side probably just wants to get back home alive and get this over. The Russians also can't just level every city to the ground and call that victory. They have to break the will of the people without destroying everything.

It is a recipe to lose the war even if you win some battles. The Russian path to victory is extremely small and maybe even impossible in this situation.

[jacquesm]

And there is no Russian 'endgame', they will be under attack forever, whereas for the Ukrainians there is a very clear goal.