Decision point for Putin is set too close for his comfort

Putin’s desire to postpone the necessary and broadly popular decision on ending his war against Ukraine is driven not by the expectations of gains but by the fear of the looming question about his responsibility for starting it. Russia has paid a heavy price for his blunder and Russian citizens will be loath to continue paying for it as the economy would struggle with the deformities of poorly planned mobilization and falling incomes. Kyiv is not likely to gain membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but Europe is almost certain to invest in its rehabilitation as European states consider a strong Ukraine as the best security guarantee for the whole continent’s security against Russian revanchism. Russia cannot win the war and cannot hope to win in the, as of yet, uncertain peace.