Russia has not been a democracy for over 1000 years and has been ruled by iron fisted tsars, communists or whatever they are called so why should Putin think differently in regards to his views on what is best for Russia?
One word: PROGRESS.
Ordinary Russian people and now oligarchs are fed up with being subjugated. They will put up with hardship if they're onboard with the reasoning.
But Putin isn't going to be able to put lipstick on a pig with this one. Look at the casualties on the Russian side. Look at the shut downs and sanctions. Inflation? They just doubled interest rates in Russia to 20%. Oligarchs cannot move.
This is a clusterf*ck situation. A FUBAR.
I won't spell out the need for Ukraine to remain a democracy. That's clear.
And Putin's in his bunker. His generals look glum.
