Theres a chance the west ends up being some sort of buffer neutral zone between EU and Russia.
That would alo require installing compliant government. Last few decades proven that Russia can live with neutral or fencesitting neighbours but anything except prorussian cabinet would get couped or taken over fast.
I imagine it would depend how much of west Ukraine we’re talking about. It would do immense economic damage to Poland and likely create a lot of internal tensions. So, it would be destabilizing in the long run.
That’s true, but if it’s just territory around Lvov, then it might not make much of a difference strategically. I do agree that Russia would likely prefer to just keep it as an independent demilitarized state instead though.
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That would alo require installing compliant government. Last few decades proven that Russia can live with neutral or fencesitting neighbours but anything except prorussian cabinet would get couped or taken over fast.
Also possible that Russia would let Poland absorb it and make it their problem.
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I imagine it would depend how much of west Ukraine we’re talking about. It would do immense economic damage to Poland and likely create a lot of internal tensions. So, it would be destabilizing in the long run.
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That’s true, but if it’s just territory around Lvov, then it might not make much of a difference strategically. I do agree that Russia would likely prefer to just keep it as an independent demilitarized state instead though.