Yup. Russia wouldn't be bargaining if it thought it could actually win this. And if we give it to them then I think that would be a mistake.
But promising that you'll do something while the enemy are shelling your cities doesn't feel like something that should be binding.
I'm not actively convinced that they *can* remove the ability of the West to harm them through sanctions. I think that doing so would mean they were a much poorer state, and that this is further than they are willing to go in the long term. (A few months, sure, but permanently moving to that?)
no subject
But promising that you'll do something while the enemy are shelling your cities doesn't feel like something that should be binding.
I'm not actively convinced that they *can* remove the ability of the West to harm them through sanctions. I think that doing so would mean they were a much poorer state, and that this is further than they are willing to go in the long term. (A few months, sure, but permanently moving to that?)