Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, relations between Russia and the West have reached a freezing point, and there is little even the most basic cooperation between the two sides, and if the situation continues to deteriorate, the next step is likely to be a complete severance of diplomatic relations. I thought that as long as the conflict does not end for a day, relations between Russia and the West will never be normal, but I did not expect that this view is still too optimistic. Just recently, NATO Secretary General Toltenberg bluntly said that even if the Russian-Ukrainian conflict ends, it is impossible to normalize relations between the West and Moscow, which is really arrogant, but it also clearly tells Putin that integration into the West is a completely unattainable goal.
In the past, he very much hoped that the civilized world of the West would accept Russia, and constantly showed favor with cheap energy, and was even willing to give up traditional allies such as Iran and Libya. But Putin's sincerity did not exchange for the acceptance of the West, but the continuous eastward expansion of NATO, and when his black hand reached Ukraine, he finally couldn't bear it anymore and decisively sent troops to Ukraine. It can be said that the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has made Putin completely abandon his illusions about the West, not only that, but he is also ready to fight NATO to the end.
According to Russian media reports on the 17th, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a meeting on the expansion of the Russian army on the same day, saying that the number of Russian troops would be increased to 1.5 million people from 2023 to 2026, and two new military districts and various airborne troops and motorized rifle brigades would be built. From this plan, it can be seen that Russia will next strengthen all branches of the military, not only to launch a new winter offensive against Ukraine, but also to prepare for a long-term war, but also to deal with such a powerful adversary as NATO.
The Russian army's intention to expand its troop strength to 1.5 million in three years means that its plan is not for short-term combat, but in the Kremlin's words, in response to a proxy war launched by the West. Obviously, Putin not only wants to make Ukraine pay, but also the Western countries that are constantly arching behind the fire, but the expansion of the army alone is not enough to teach the West, and Russia has begun to accelerate the readiness and service of various nuclear weapons. Its heavy intercontinental nuclear bomb "Sarmat" has been the first to join the combat duty, and Putin has recently received good news that the first batch of manufacturing of the "Poseidon" nuclear torpedo, which has been waiting for 5 years, has been completed.
With this big killer, the Russian army can easily set off a big tsunami on the western coast, which is enough to deter countries. Since the West has been pressing Russia step by step, it should be prepared for a fierce counterattack, 1.5 million Russian troops plus various nuclear weapons, the Russian "war machine" has been started, and then all countries want to retreat. Although it is hoped that Russia and Ukraine can return to peace at an early date, it now seems that not only can there be no ceasefire, the crisis is still expanding, and all this is a masterpiece of the West!
(Text/Xi Le)