What is Putin willing to do to win a war he can't afford to lose?

[Renew Deal]

Putin has been planning for this war in Ukraine for as long as he has been in power. Now the question is what is he willing to do to win a war he can’t afford to lose?

Why can’t he afford to lose it?
It is his life goal to take back Ukraine. This is his last shot.
It would be politically fatal to lose it.
The history books will record him as a loser.
Russias standing will be reduced to sub-super power level leaving them more vulnerable to disrespect. Putin already has an inferiority complex. It would get worse.

So the question is, what is Putin willing to do to win a war he can’t afford to lose?

[doc03]

1. I am afraid there is no limit nt

[samsingh]

2. he can't win this war - in the end the russians are going to be destroyed economically and

territorially. Many russians will be killed in this conflict

[Girard442]

5. Agreed that Putin can't win....

...but we can all lose.

[EYESORE 9001]

6. I agree

Even a half-baked plot to form a Chinese-Russian axis would end with Russia being a junior partner at best.

[FarPoint]

3. Putin has control issues...

Similar to a spouse who kills his family when a divorce is imminent. ...Meaning...."if I can't have it no one can".... he won't take his own life either...

[Scrivener7]

4. This is exactly the question. I fear we will learn the answer in the coming weeks.

[mn9driver]

7. He has already lost it.

The Russian army in Ukraine is running out of food and fuel. Many units have already run out. They will need to exert maximum effort just to hold what they have now. There is zero chance that they will be able to occupy and pacify the entire country.

Putin can’t change this. All he can do is try to distract the world from his failure. I think the world may fail to be distracted this time. We'll see.

[Chainfire]

8. At some point, the prosecution of the war will become so disagreeable to the Russian

people, or the Oligarchs that control them, that they will take action. We just need to keep up the pressure. Hitler couldn't afford to lose, Mussolini could not afford to lose, and yet, in the end, they lost. Putin will not destroy the world because it would mean his own death and I doubt that the melomaniac could face that. Bullies are always cowards in disguise.

The Russians can get off of this train when ever they choose, or they can ride it to the terminus. It is their choice.

[Irish_Dem]

9. I think he believes he must win this war at all costs.

He has been working on this plan for control of the West his entire adult life. And to restore the Russian Empire.

He spent a huge amount of time, money and effort to damage western democracies. It was not for fun and games, it was to help him realize his goals.

This emboldened him and made him feel invincible. He is a ruthless sociopath and toxic narcissist. The death of many people does not bother him.

I think he is quite capable of using low yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Russia has an antimissile system around Moscow and he may feel he is safe from any counter attack? And he himself will be in a secure location.