Think about what the annexation of the 4 territories previously under Ukraine jurisdiction by Russia, based on the clear will of the peoples of these territories, means. This annexation COMPLETELY changes the situation in Ukraine.
Previously, the conflict in Ukraine was a military incursion of corrupt Ukraine by Russia for the denazification of Ukraine, removal and neutralization of the Biolabs, and protection and preservation of the ethnically Russian citizens residing in Ukraine territory.
However, with the annexation of the territories, these territories can no longer be considered Ukraine, but from a legal standpoint, are now part of Russian soil.
Therefore, any bomb that Ukraine or its NATO allies drop in these areas has now become the equivalent of dropping a bomb in Moscow.
The situation has been flipped. This is a big deal. It means instead of Russia merely undertaking a (justified) action to protect its borders from abuse and attack by a hostile regime, that hostile regime has now been put in the position of attacking Russia if they attempt to attack or abuse these regions.
For Ukraine and its allies, the conflict has transitioned from being legally a defense action to one where they now pivot on the edge of becoming the aggressors.
Putin has pulled a switcheroo. And he is fully prepared and ready to smack down the Globalist aggressors when they trip up.
We may imagine that war is all chaos, mayhem and that rules or law do not apply. But that's not true at all. Law, and rules, apply, and those who violate the law can be held accountable. Spiritual warfare is a form of law warfare; claims and counterclaims are made. Truth and moral standing are critical.
The annexation of the 4 regions - "illegal annexation" the Deep State West decries - has changed the playing field and the ramifications of action dramatically.
Keep in mind that Russia annexed Crimea 4-years ago, so that was part of Russia.
An attack against Crimea was then an 'attack on Russia itself'... and yet it still happened and here we are.
The situation is far from over and the fighting over those territories is not likely to stop. Russia is stating that any fighting in those territories will either be declared terrorism against Russia (and treated as such) or an act of war directly against Russia. It escalates the situation. There is no cause for any celebration, because consequences just became far more serious for all involved.
I take it more as we're in a transitory phase of the conflict. Right now Zalensky and Putin are both posturing to intimidate the other.
Putin is basically saying "this is mine now. attack at your own peril" and Zalensky is basically say "well I'll go crying to NATO and they'll kick your ass, take that!"
So Putin has effectively established a foothold in Ukraine now and he's been courting an alliance the whole time with BRICS nations. Zalensky's application to NATO can be seen as a natural response and WILL escalate tensions if it goes through.
My question is will NATO/EU actually try to become aggressors here and start war with Russia? If the Ruskies aren't joking, they may very well start bringing real conflict to the heads of the EU. Meanwhile, people like Meloni are getting more and more in power. That's dissent among the ranks. Perhaps EU wants to clean house of its rebellious element?
If Putin were smart, he'd play the long game of "liberating the people of Europe" by severing the bureaucratic heads and letting them rule themselves, although maybe part as an alliance or member of the Russian federation. This would be a long and hard path of politics as much as military, but I could see it.
Too much time has gone by. Zelensky has not acted remotely according to reason, spurning negotiation except under fanciful conditions (Putin repaced by new President of Russia, all Russian forces withdrawn, no Russian incorporation of the 4 provinces). The idea of drawing NATO in is a potential escalation. My thinking is that now the time is right, Putin has the resources and national will to obliterate the Ukrainian armed forces now that they are severely weakened, sweep down upon Kiev (from Belarus?) and hold it under siege until the Zelensky government is handed over by name. Meanwhile, swift measures are taken to blot out all instances of Western military supply within Ukraine's borders and close off cross-border access. The best way to prevent NATO from entering the theater is to close all the doors and remove their enablers. In war, being swift is also being considerate of casualties.