3 hours ago, johng said:

What is the GDP of Iran ? or Vietnam or Afghanistan GDP is totally irrelevant.

Russia has been at war (again) with NATO by default since probably the 2014 Maidan coup .

Do the 'math' on the nuclear warheads !!!

in any prolonged war, economy always decide outcome

Russia doesn't have enough resources to fight on two fronts. As long as there a strong army in Ukraine, Russia cannot start another war.

On 6/27/2026 at 12:34 PM, impulse said:

Putin doesn't even want the rest of Ukraine, beyond Crimea and Donbass, which he already has, and for years.. But he won't have an option if Zelenskyy keeps poking the bear. He just wants a secure border and for the Ukrainians to quit killing ethnic Russkies.

That's just the excuse, he wants both the soil as it's some of the most fertile and productive in the world and he wants the gas laying under them.

That's just the excuse, he wants both the soil as it's some of the most fertile and productive in the world and he wants the gas laying under them.

He already has more soil than people, and so much undeveloped oil and gas underneath that soil that he doesn't need Ukraine for that.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

He already has more soil than people, and so much undeveloped oil and gas underneath that soil that he doesn't need Ukraine for that.

Then why does a billionaire want more and more? 'More than enough' is not a reason for not wanting more.
Stop blaming Ukraine for Russian aggression.

9 hours ago, stevenl said:

Then why does a billionaire want more and more? 'More than enough' is not a reason for not wanting more.
Stop blaming Ukraine for Russian aggression.

Just because Russia doesn't need it doesn't mean Putin doesn't want it.