Question is who is bankrolling. Putin was in Teheran the past two day, claiming part of that $150 billion in Iranian money, selling anti aircraft missles and uranium (of all things).
You make a very astute observation that the media has not made, and they are not capable of making anymore because, well, it is the stoopid media.
For anyone that thinks that Russia is in anyway a danger to the world, needs only to look at their GDP compared to other countries GDP. Russia is small potatoes. They are incapable of economically managing any type of war any more.
So don't get too hung up on Russias worldwide influence. It doesn't exist due to their economy.
Unless, as you point out, someone else bankrolls them. Maybe this is where our $150B is going. Through Iran to Russia.
“Somebody is bankrolling Putin during this war. Russia’s GDP equals that of Italy. Does anyone think Italy could afford such military adventures?”
Russia doesn’t have Italy’s welfare state.
Much as I dislike he at least has balls Obama does not.