Russia has:
Proved that the EU and Russia are inextricably linked;
Regained its only warm-water port;
Regained Crimea (Even Ukraine’s no longer asking for its return);
Added two-thirds of the Ukraine navy, with officers and crews, to its Black Sea fleet;
Doubled its rights to Black Sea oil thanks to Crimea’s long coastline;
Revived industries idled by imports, thus raising employment and self-sufficiency;
Rewarded nations refusing to sanction Russia and drawn them closer;
Lifted Putin’s approval from 65% to 85%. and united Russian opinion against the West;
Killed 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers: a dreadful warning to Russia’s enemies;
Liberated the Donbass (industrial) states, with most of Ukraine’s skilled industry;
Shown NATO to be a ruthless imperialist; AND
Drawn China MUCH closer in mutual defense and support.
Mr. Godfree Roberts (godfree@gmail.com) is one of the actively-working volunteer editors and frequent contributors for The 4th Media.