A number of media commentators have noted that Putin has no reverse gear. In that respect, he's like some other despots such as Hitler or Stalin.

He will likely regroup the Russian military and - since he can't have Ukraine - he'll continue to try to destroy it, with the help of Iran and other allies.

He will only be taken down when his own people find the guts to stand up against his mediaeval empire-building mentality. That will require more courage than most of us have. Who was it that said: "peace is the dream of the wise; war is the history of man"?

Meanwhile his 'special military operation' has rather a large GHG footprint.

What a silly, stupid, self-harming primate we have turned out to be.