The same was said about North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. After the first month it was/is a forgone conclusion that Russia will break apart (some more). It's economy won't recover in the foreseeable future. Anyway, like all that hit hard times, somehow they survive, afford it or not.

So I feel the deeper question is how much will cost us to have another instable nation in the world? Lost money to Russia is lost cheap resources to us. How can the buyer not suffer as much as the seller in the end? Resources are limited. These are subtle issues I know you understand. Most 99% of most people out there don't, so won't get behind greater military effort or, at the other extreme, no-fault peace-efforts.

The instabilities are too in-the-future, abstract, not really relevant to us. Maybe it will all get absorbed and not effect the rest of the world. I can't make an argument that the Ukraine was is fomenting more wars, but I believe it. Letting it drag on for a year might prove to be a colossal blunder on the part of the West.