...but is he crazy?
If he really used a nuclear weapon or he thinks after Ukraine he is going to start marching into other countries, he is nuts. I wonder if those are his plans or just want he wants us to think might be his plans.
It has been a serious struggle for him in Ukraine. His own forces seem poorly trained and prepared, as well as not particularly motivated to fight that war. He's lost a lot of them. Supposedly he only recruits troops from the far reaches of Russia so that the deaths of soldiers and their grieving families are not seen by people in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the major cities. He has to pay for contractors to fight this war.
It looks to me if he tried to mix it up with NATO nations, he would get crushed. Then if he wanted an out he would have to go to his nukes. The way I always hear Russia described is they are Italy with nukes.
If he is crazy, that puts us in a different situation, but based upon the fact that his attack on Ukraine has bogged down and he is stalled there, throwing money and resources at it, and he does not have an endless supply of soldiers...why would he take from that he can start attempting to march further into Europe?
I'm not seeing that as a goal that makes any sense for him. Unless, as you say, he is crazy.
