True also. It is easy to adopt a narrow focus of viewing the conflict as David against Goliath and wonder why we don’t just put Goliath down quickly. The problem is that this approach is too simplistic and ignores other geopolitical concerns. Trading with China and services from India are also important as you noted.

I just read an article on the trends in Russian television. Apparently, more and more the war is being recast as a fight with NATO using Ukraine as a proxy. They are trying to re-cast Russia as the underdog against an imperialistic and more formidable foe, apparently in an attempt to drum up patriotic fervor, and also provide an excuse if the war continues to go badly. The danger of this fiction is if it in fact becomes a reality. It easily could if Ukraine is given too much sophisticated, offensive weaponry.