Russia Ukraine war, page-210713

All signs point to Russia gearing up for 'large-scale' conflict with NATO, thinktank says

Several financial, economic, and military indicators suggest that Russia is preparing for a "large-scale conventional conflict with NATO", a leading thinktank has said.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says such a conflict could occur in the short-term - "not imminently but likely on a shorter timeline than what some Western analysts have initially posited."

It noted that Vladimir Putin's actions over the past years and recent speeches outlining his plans for his recently-secured fifth term as president focused on stabilising Russia's long-term financial future.

"Putin's attempts to set conditions to stabilise Russia's economy and finances are most likely part of... preparations for a potential future large-scale conflict with NATO and not just for a protracted war in Ukraine," it assessed.

ISW referenced comments made by Polish President Andrzej Duda yesterday, who suggested that Russia was switching to become a war economy "with the intention of being able to attack NATO as early as 2026 or 2027".

https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-russia-news-putin-nuclear-live-updates-kyiv-12541713

if this is correct ......putin is simply a total idiot ....we've seen the poor judgement but this is way way too much for rusisa to ever handle
not only would he totally destroy his economy , incur almost certain defeat ,totally alienate the west , deprive the rest of the nation in order to rebuild military reserves and destroy ANOTHER generation of young russ men........ but he would also risk nuclear anhialation for the sake of his own ego .