[hans_castorp]

In the meantime I fear he is indeed that crazy. He repeatedly stated that his goal is to wipe out Ukraine at any costs. He is a like a little child that doesn't get his way and then blindly hits at everything in his reach.

[capitol_]

It is a political move to appear that crazy.

Russia is desperate to deter EU/USA from involving itself more in the war, and the only way it can do that is by treating to escalate to nuclear war.

But that threat is only effective if people actually think that you will do it, so they must play this so that they seem crazy enough to start a nuclear war.

It's a bit like someone blackmailing you for money for something illegal you did together, only way to get you to pay is to show that they are really willing to expose your secrets, even if they might be exposed also. And once you believe them and start paying they will continue to demand money from you.

[ssijak]

Can you post a link to a video him saying that, I never heard it

[zo1]

Would also be curious to see that video as it'd be very damning. Else it's just more Fake News, just from the other side this time.

As always, apply the Falsifiability principle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability

[hans_castorp]

One occasion was the latest phone call with Emanuel Macron (French President) Putin stated:

> the Kremlin said that Mr. Putin had told his French counterparty

> that his main goal was “the demilitarization and neutral status of Ukraine.”

> Those goals, the Kremlin said, “will be achieved no matter what.”

The only English source I could find quickly was this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/world/europe/putin-macron...

[mise_en_place]

What does crazy mean? Irrational? I don’t think so. He is currently following the Nash equilibrium strategy for fighting a war with a non-nuclear power.

Edit: by your terminology I would consider Ukrainians to be crazy. This a good thing and the reason why I’m rooting for them. They’re the underdog. The rational thing for them to do was to capitulate as soon as the invasions started. It takes a “crazy” level of conviction to the do the irrational thing here.

[mcv]

No, capitulation would be irrational, because it would mean they would be controlled and enslaved by Putin. Ukraine has lived under that yoke before, and will do everything possible to prevent it from happening again. There is no surrender possible for them, and that's why Putin cannot possibly win this war.