> the end of this war must be positive for the Russian people, no matter whether Russia loses or wins the military operation. I can see a plausible end that av

> the end of this war must be positive for the Russian people, no matter whether Russia loses or wins the military operation. I can see a plausible end that avoids ridicule on either side: - West will maintain that Putin meant to destroy Ukraine. So, limiting him to the new status-quo for Luhansk and Donetsk (whatever that would be) is a success. - Putin will claim that the target of the "military operation" was to make Luhansk and Donetsk safe for the Russian-speaking population there. The new status-quo provides for that. So the operation was a success.