I agree wholeheartedly. During the bad old Soviet Days, the Soviets could always count on the Western Nations to sell them grain and other food staples. Even medicines made in the west. Now, even those will be placed off limits for trade with Russia.
Every month, Russia will grow weaker, and every month China, and others will look on and smile as they see their opportunity. But especially China.
Everyone points and says that Taiwan is the next to fall. I don’t think so. Russia has shown their Military to be weak, disorganized, and poorly led. China might have thought that, but there is no way they were going to put that belief to the test. Now, China has first hand knowledge.
Taiwan has essentially no natural resources to speak of. Nothing for China to enrich themselves. But Russia has untapped treasure below the sparsely populated territory of Siberia. And China could take thousands if not tens of thousands of square miles with ease. Oil, Diamonds, other precious metals, Timber, and space for China’s population all exist just there, and the Chinese Military is apparently in better shape than Russia’s. And most importantly, the rest of the world would be unable to reinforce Russia, even if they wanted to. And thanks to Ukraine nobody would want to.
Putin of course would scream and howl for International action. China could sell it as punitive actions over Ukraine, and just keep it. But no President, even Trump, would spend a single dollar to defend Russia after what has happened in Ukraine.
Russia has put a big target on their back, and is daring the world to do something about it. The world is, and they’ll continue.