[Oyk]

On further research over the weekend I am even clearer now.

Problem is we are all finding a "rational" reason for Putin's invasion. Its like someone make a wrong turn and we assume he is smart and has a reason to do so.

After pouring through much research material over week end my conclusion is Putin runs a Kleptocracy and having a democracy at its door step will cause internal problem.
Giving Putin an expansionist ambitions is giving him too much credit 

He is basically insecure with so many autocrats toppled jin recent years. So he decided to act but likely he miscalculated and gives the west a golden opportunity to take him down.

I am quite convinced of the above. The next few weeks will prove it.

The sooner he realises that he wasted and is wasting a lot of his bullets (arsenal) on Ukraine which has been thrown under the bus by the West, the better for him.

Every bullet fired on Ukraine is one bullet less to fight a war elsewhere.

And the sanctions will ensure that he will not have the money to rearm for a long time to come.

OK. he has nuclear, but that's no a viable option for further aggression. It's only a last report option if Russia is under attack and at risk of annihilation

Putin miscalculated.  He bit the bait.   Zelensky also miscalculated.  He was naïve to believe the West.

The winner in all of these are the US, UK and NATO.

The losers are Russia and China.  China because it does her no good to have a weakened Russia.