I think you need to separate out the three components of this war... The Ukrainians, Russia and putin. The Ukrainians won't give up, neither will Putin. That leaves Russia and Russians and his far down Putin's rabbit hole thank follow him. Currently, for Putin, the signs aren't good!
@Elessar what you say is so true, in the past at least... Maybe still now, i don't really know. The whatever reason, Russians love a strong lead, even if it is too the detriment personally... Maybe enough freedom and benefits of free elections have been tasted that change will come.. Time will tell
@Convivial It's a country subjected to brain drain, pretty much everyone sane of mind has left, is leaving, or is unable to leave and therefore rendered harmless (drafted, arrested, intimidated, etc.); the residual is people indoctrinated by the regime
I hope you're right. But it feels like democracy is decaying in the west as well, let alone in a dictatorship where for centuries people associated authoritarianism/brutality with strength and good leadership