I don't even think victory is possible for Russia in Ukraine, never mind taking on NATO after.
By that I don't mean they cant win the war in Ukraine, there is a possibility of Trump winning and pulling US backing, the EU not making up the difference and Russia winning a slow grinding victory over the Ukrainian military. But can that really be called a win? All they will have achieved is trashing their own post soviet surplus, their military, their economy and their largest export market just to be able to spend the next 20 years locked into counter insurgency in Ukraine and expanding and strengthening NATO. I don't see that as a win for Russia just to gain a buffer state to ward off an invasion that would never happen thanks to nuclear weapons.
that's some load-bearing "after"
I don't even think victory is possible for Russia in Ukraine, never mind taking on NATO after.
By that I don't mean they cant win the war in Ukraine, there is a possibility of Trump winning and pulling US backing, the EU not making up the difference and Russia winning a slow grinding victory over the Ukrainian military. But can that really be called a win? All they will have achieved is trashing their own post soviet surplus, their military, their economy and their largest export market just to be able to spend the next 20 years locked into counter insurgency in Ukraine and expanding and strengthening NATO. I don't see that as a win for Russia just to gain a buffer state to ward off an invasion that would never happen thanks to nuclear weapons.
let’s play word association! okay
… Russia … Pyrrhic
Hey, a pyrrhic victory is still a victory, right?