mmmmm castillian goddess with no makeup
>>256577
>the actual goal is for ukraine to like then again
I don't think that's possible though, the Ukrainian/Russian divide is irreconcilable at this point. the Ukrainians aren't saying, "oh well, I suppose it was a mistake to be mean to Russians", they're saying "GRR Russian orcs, we will grow sunflowers on your corpses! blood harvest!" best Russia can achieve is to salvage as much of the Ukraine as possible and make the rest neutral and demilitarized so as not to pose a threat
>they just wouldn't get away with converting this many russian-adjacent ukrainian places into russian territory, and it gives the wrong impression
the actual thing they might do is hold independence referendums for 'Kherson People's Republic' etc. which would then hold referendums to join Russia. wouldn't just be annexing land, there'd be a technicality that legitimizes it from the non-western perspective. nobody that is willing to deal with Russia fairly (China, India, Syria, etc.) will care
>wouldn't get away with
also this is questionable wording. how would they 'not get away with' it? the west is already doing what it's willing to do- heavy military support that is material, advisorial, and intelligence-providing in nature. they aren't willing to start a NATO-Russia war because that would result in nuclear war. the question is simply, what is Russia willing and able to take? all the west can do is make it sufficiently costly that Russia will decide enough is enough and call it