QUESTION: What if the Ukrainian forces WIN a conventional war against Russia?

[uponit7771]

QUESTION: What if the Ukrainian forces WIN a conventional war against Russia?

I know I'm in the wishful thinking face of anger (or whatever its called) but ... this thing isn't going Pootin's way IMHO.

What say you?

thx in advance

[Ohio Joe]

1. If they succeed in kicking the Russians out...

They should be fast tracked into NATO ASAP. Otherwise, Russia would just try again in short order... They want the old USSR back.

[JohnSJ]

2. Unfortunately that won't happen. There will be no "winners" in this engagement

[qazplm135]

3. They won't

They can make Russia feel like Iraq and Afghanistan were playgrounds by comparison.

They can kill a lot of Russians with military and insurgency.

[WHITT]

4. Are We Drinking With Lunch?

[uponit7771]

5. No, but that's a good idea ... lol. I'm jus sayin, anything is possible and I don't see the UKR ...

... giving up for shit.

[Fiendish Thingy]

6. Just how would Ukraine win a war against a nuclear power?

Just because you specified a conventional war doesn’t mean there is any chance that would happen- the only way Ukraine wins is if Putin withdraws or is overthrown.

[Happy Hoosier]

9. I SEROUSLY doubt Putin would use nukes here.

Ukraine COULD win by simply making Putin's position politically untenable. They don;t need to actually expel Russian Forces, just make it hurt more than Putin can tolerate.

[uponit7771]

10. +1

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. Like I said, Ukraine can only "win" if Russia withdraws.

They will not beat Russia militarily; only a combination of sanctions, guerilla warfare, and Russian dissent might permit Ukraine’s democracy to survive, if Putin decides it’s not worth the pain (unlikely).

Either that, or a military coup that ousts Putin.

[Happy Hoosier]

18. Ummm... that's what "win" means here.

Very few conflicts end in the complete destruction of one force or the other. Even if the Ukrainian military is entirely destroyed, it seems very unlikely to me that Russia has the ability, much less the will, to suppress an on-going insurgency. Ukraine is a BIG country.

[DanieRains]

7. With Enough Modern Weapons Putins Tanks Are Toast

Send them the Javelins and Stingers they need.

One shot one less tank.

The math works.

[uponit7771]

12. +1, I don't see mechanized warfare being what it was in the 80s. Hell, a kid can fire a javelin ...

... with little training and the stand off is 1.6 miles !!

I pray they whoop Pootins ass !!

[PoliticAverse]

15. But to fire one they need to have one and they are rather expensive.

They don't seem to have anywhere near enough right now.

[uponit7771]

16. +1

[Happy Hoosier]

8. Unlikely.... but....

if it did happen, it would be a major humiliation for Putin, and he might he be ousted.

[PoliticAverse]

13. What would happen is Putin would say Russia's objectives in Ukraine were acheived...

and Russian troops would withdraw to the 2 republics he recently recognized.

[uponit7771]

14. +1, worldwide that would still be a loss for him IMHO. He was supposed to roll in this poor country

... that has a 155 billion dollar GDP and whoop everyone.

If he couldn't do that he's weak ... obectively

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. ANSWER: Russia loses all its international prestige as a military powerhouse

Putin is exposed as the one trick pony blowhard he is.
Russian economy collapses
Russia gets another Great Depression on in Russia

And the damage will last decades.

[peggysue2]

19. That's a huge 'what if'

I think we can reasonably say at this point that Ukraine will bloody Russia's nose, that Ukrainians will wage an insurgency for a long, protracted period.

But an actual, all out win?

Short of a miracle, I don't see it.

However, I don't see Putin coming out of this debacle unscathed either; he's weakened himself and his country's standing in the world. Among democracy supporters, that is.

I'd like to believe otherwise. I'd like to believe that Ukraine could prevail. But I don't.

Would love to be proven wrong.

[sarisataka]

20. THEN Putin

Would either fall or have to impose Stalin-like policies in Russia to stay in power

[Tommy Carcetti]

21. Then it would be worthwhile visiting Ukraine.

A beautiful country with a rich history and culture and charming people.

(Also, a great bargain!)

[DFW]

22. It won't come to that

If it even looks like coming close to that, Putin will make like Bush II, declare "Mission Accomplished," and go home with his pointed head held high in triumph.