My opinion comes from being around my wife who is Russian (non Putin fan) and her family and living there for 2 years. I can't speak for any Russian. I'm just giving my opinion. I also want to state this clearly......I am NOT arguing for or against LGBTQ, immigration, nationalism vs globalism, Christianity vs Non Christianity, Jewish vs Non-Jewish.

I know, strong stuff above, right? That's the deal with the Russian people The west tells us this war is about Putin wanting to reconstitute the Soviet Union. That's partially true, but he doesn't want the "Stans" as they are dirt poor. Putin and a large segment of the Russian people (for right or wrong) feel this is a social war that has been coming for 20 years. 20 years ago in Russia, Putin actually tossed out 90% of the Oligarchs. A large portion of them were of the Jewish Faith. Among the Russian People, anti-semitism has grown as they blamed the Oligarchs for the plight of their economic status. Orthodox Christianity boomed and still is. LGBTQ rights went out the window. Immigration, or what they perceive as an attempt by the west to reshape their largely white-Christian culture was forbidden. They didn't allow the boats in from the Middle East and North Africa. At the same time, as massive move to Nationalism instead of Globalism.

Again,I'm giving you the view form the Russian people. They see the West as directly opposite to the above values and an attempt to punish them for these values in the form of financial sanctions that were in effect long before Crimea. In Crimea, 91% of the population voted to succeed from Ukraine and join Russia. They feel this was democratic and the West used this as a way to punish them, largely for the opposing social views held by Russia.

In conclusion, I am NOT arguing the specific controversial issues. I'm simply giving you the viewpoint held by what is probably a majority of Russians, and they see the War with Ukraine as a wrong, but they see the overall war as an attempt to fight back against the West for what they perceive as wrongs done to them (again, not arguing for or against) just giving their perspective. This is why I just don't think they will accept "defeat." To Putin, it's more about Ukraine or reforming the USSR, it's literally a war with the West that they feel has been brewing for years.