Vladimir Putin had hoped for a swift and overwhelming victory, the capture of Kyiv and the crippling of Ukraine as a functioning state. But six months after his tanks rolled over the border, the war has been neither quick nor decisive and he and his enemies are settling in for the long haul, with costs and risks not seen in Europe for a generation.
The red mist has descended on both sides: neither is likely to give up.
What comes next? Can a Ukrainian counterattack in the south succeed? A broader Ukrainian offensive and mobilisation expected as soon as next spring could lead to battlefield successes and the liberation of land seized by Russia. This might create other risks. If Putin senses defeat, will he
