[chalcolithic]

>Many people don't seem to realise how existential this is for Russia.

I, being Russian, can not understand how is that an existential threat to a country that has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, has insane amount of natural resources, and enjoys a virtually exclusive access to the best demographic reservoir in the world (except for Haredim, but it's not like they're planning to move anywhere, so yeah, the best one actually).

[pc_edwin]

Over the span of three decades your nation went from being a global superpower with immense economic, political and military power to a rapid declining shell of its former self.

Your economy is more comparable to an American state like Florida than a powerful country. You're nation is a political pariah with fleeting influence even among former ussr members. You capability to exert military power outside of your own borders have been effectively disabled having being surrounded by NATO and with a heavily depleted military.

All of this combined with the natural resources and land you mentioned is exactly why its open season on Russia to be carved up by actors with higher economic, military and political power.

If I was in your shoes, I would either give up and move or do anything and everything I can to improve the odds of the terrible hand your nation has been given..

[chalcolithic]

>global superpower with immense economic, political and military power

I seen it from inside - you've bought into a Potemkin's village. When it was a "global superpower" (on paper) it was a much, much worse country by any measure.

>You're nation is a political pariah with fleeting influence even among former ussr members.

When the war has started that's exactly where I moved to. Turns out you're very wrong about it (didn't know it myself)

[pc_edwin]

Btw going to back to my op, this is exactly what Putin has been doing by working on hypersonic missiles. Taking Crimea. Trying to forcefully bring Ukraine back to Russia's sphere of influence.. etc

I'm not saying I condone his actions. I'm saying his actions are rational and strategic.

Putins choices were either leave a legacy of a slowly declining Russian federation until there isn't one or make massive gambits like this reverse Russias fortune.

The thing is, such gambits carries the risk of accelerating the current fate..

If I was ever put in a similar situation, my god I pray to have the balls and conviction to pull the trigger on such moves. It would be so much easier to just put up the appearances of normalcy by moving the chairs of the titanic while it sinks..

[khokhol]

He has plenty of other choices, actually. Even now.

It's just that they involve some combination of letting go of his expansionist fantasies, relaxing his absolute grip on power, or watering-down his so-called legacy. So of course he won't pursue them.