Russia seems to be digging themselves into a hole here...

 I mean...let's face it. This invasion isn't going well. Russia made a calculated risk to invade Ukraine on the hopes that he could 1) take over the country quickly, and 2) that he would be able to get out of any international backlash in time. But...as it stands. Instead, Russia is failing to take Ukraine as I write this mostly, and the international community is PISSED. I mean, we went HARD on them with the sanctions. THey're cut off. They are cut off from the international finance system, companies are pulling out, and others are getting banned as they can't deal with Russia's new censorship laws. Russia itself is doubling down in making threats, claiming that sanctioning them is an act of war and throwing its weight around. But all Russia seems to be doing is turning the world against them. I mean, Germany is backing off of its pacifist stance since WWII and is now militarizing. Sweden and Finland are thinking of joining NATO. Even SWITZERLAND is taking a side. Russia is making itself weaker, more isolated, and it seems to show no signs of repentance, seemingly doubling down on threats and trying to force its way into Ukraine despite obvious logistical troubles. 

Honestly? I don't know where this ends. I dont see Russia and NATO fighting in a hot war. Putin clearly knows the hard limits of the west on that, but they're making threats as far as they can, and honestly, I dont see it going well for them. Russia seems to have undermined any trust and good will it had gained in the international community since the fall of the USSR. And at this point, Putin seems to be trying to fashion himself after Stalin, wanting to reunite the USSR, and be the strong man of the big empire again. Except...that empire is gone. Most of those former soviet states are now in NATO and the ones that arent are thinking about joining ASAP. Putin just made Russia weaker than it's ever been. If he keeps going like this Russia will be isolated. It will be cut off from the international community. It will be a pariah in the world, but they will have total control at home, so what does it matter? The country will be poor, but the leadership will live well. Basically, Putin is turning Russia into siberian North Korea right now. And that's not that ironic given how Putin does seem to wanna bring the USSR back, and North Korea is literally modeled on Stalinist Russia. Well, they might be getting their wish. But, this new Russian empire won't any of the respect or fear the last one did. It lacks the satellite states, it will have an imploded economy, and its army is in shambles. Congrats, Russia, you played yourself. TO THE NEW SOVIET UNION (warning, earrape).