Crucially, he is undermining the conviction in the West that Ukraine can—and must—emerge from the war as a thriving European democracy.
Putin is cynically using the fact that Ukraine is refusing to hold elections and has banned dozens of political parties to make Ukraine seem undemocratic.
The West could do a lot more to frustrate Mr Putin. If it chose, it could deploy industrial and financial resources that dwarf Russia’s.
…
[Putin] now tells Russians, absurdly, that they are locked in a struggle for survival against the West.
…
Europe must, therefore, plan for Mr Putin as the main long-term threat to its security.
…
Weapons matter, especially air defences and long-range missiles to strike at Russian supply lines,
How absurd for Russians to view the west as a threat.