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> the end of this war must be positive for the Russian people, no matter whether Russia loses or wins the military operation.

I can see a plausible end that avoids ridicule on either side:

- West will maintain that Putin meant to destroy Ukraine. So, limiting him to the new status-quo for Luhansk and Donetsk (whatever that would be) is a success.

- Putin will claim that the target of the "military operation" was to make Luhansk and Donetsk safe for the Russian-speaking population there. The new status-quo provides for that. So the operation was a success.