I will sound cynical, but my take on all the news about Russia is that this is more a smoke show for the domestic audience than the start of WW3
Europe still needs to trade with Russia for oil, and they've already made clear they will not extend NATO protection to Ukraine. There's a ton of sanctions but sanctions have a poor history of actually stopping trade, what they do is empower the few at the top with the power to circumvent them to control all the deals. That and the fact Russia's best friend is the biggest trading manufacturer and trading hub on the planet and I think these sanctions are all paperwork and no teeth.
My guess is that politicians are making a big deal of all the stuff they are doing and waiting for the tide of public opinion to turn against the increased cost of living, then they quietly roll them back while claiming they have to look after their own citizens first.
Russia will run out of steam in a few days because their supply lines were screwed by badly maintained vehicles, they'll fall back to the Donbas region and setup a massive local force there and let the Eastern Ukrainian forces mire the West in a civil war for decades.
My guess is that politicians are making a big deal of all the stuff they are doing and waiting for the tide of public opinion to turn against the increased cost of living, then they quietly roll them back while claiming they have to look after their own citizens first.
Russia will run out of steam in a few days because their supply lines were screwed by badly maintained vehicles, they'll fall back to the Donbas region and setup a massive local force there and let the Eastern Ukrainian forces mire the West in a civil war for decades.