Western Leaders and Russian Leader have huge disconnect

[Reality Check]

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Western leaders remain in denial that Russia has a real chance to permanently reestablish the economic and military dominance Russia enjoyed over much of Ukraine for hundreds of years.
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Putin believes such dominance by Russia is a given, and is still playing this to achieve dominance over historic Bessarabia and most, if not all, of the rest of Ukraine, as well.
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The curse, may you live in interesting times, is playing out as Putin, China, Iran and others attempt to make history as the west advertizes weakness of purpose.