Putin was more than likely expecting the same sort of tepid response–instead, he was faced with some of the harshest sanctions ever imposed in modern history. In total more than 30 countries representing slightly more than half of global GDP have joined hands in imposing sanctions designed to damage the Russian economy and punish President Putin along with his inner circle of cronies as well as high-ranking officials inside the Russian government.
It is still unclear whether the main objective of the sanctions–which is inflicting sufficient pain to convince Putin he should in earnest go to the negotiating table for a ceasefire and eventual withdrawl of Russian forces from Ukranian soil–will work. Still, there are good reasons to believe the war will not be a long, drawn out affair.
One US retired general recently commented that the war could last several years. While this might be true if we look at the conflict purely from a military point of view, in reality Putin is more likely to seek peace in the not-too-distant future rather than wage a protracted war.
A key reason for Putin wanting to put an end to his war much sooner as opposed to later is the glaring and undeniable failings of the Russian military.
It was an entirely different story when the Russian military went up against its enemies on Chechnya, Crimea, Syria and Georgia, which were campaigns limited to much smaller territories than the whole of Ukraine.
Now, facing a highly disciplined and motivated Ukranian army backed with some of the best weaponry from NATO, the weaknesses of the Russian forces have become strikingly clear. The Russian army, which believed the war could be won within a few weeks, has yet to capture a major Ukranian city after nearly two months since the invasion was launched.
Adding insult to injury was the recent sinking of the Moskva missile cruiser, the command warship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The fact that the Ukranians were able to inflict such a staggering blow to the Russian Navy was not only an embarrassment for Putin, it was also demoralizing for his military to be exposed as vulnerable when it was once thought Ukraine would be a cakewalk.