He’s right Russia not going to be deterred by Western threats and sanctions. Ukraine is far too important for Russia to concede to the West.
Any one who who does not understand why Russia is acting with a free hand there, who thinks Russia will give up on what it considers to be its vital interests out of a desire to be with the West doesn’t know Russia.
Short of outright war, there is no way to force a nuclear superpower to capitulate.
“Short of outright war, there is no way to force a nuclear superpower to capitulate.”
So, in other words, you are asserting the Soviet Union did not disintegrate in 1991.
Once the mentality of the Cold War returns to RF, yes, it becomes strategic thinking and the creation of buffer zones all over again. Problem is, the Ukrainian nation has been borne and will not go down easily. It is the sovietization of RF that pushed Ukraine out of the Russian sphere of influence.
Will Putin go all the way into Ukraine, I don't know. The author seems to agree with you that he will. My earlier prediction was that Putin will chicken out, or someone out there will shoot him.