Even if Vladimir Putin is offered a way out of the mess he created I don’t believe he’ll take it.
Why?
Such
a deal is fundamentally unjust. The individuals responsible for the
subjugation and slaughter of Ukrainian citizens are basically getting
away scot-free.
The second point against it that it’s contrary to
the nature of the beast we’re facing. Although the deal allows the
enemy to take their loot with them, plunder (on the part of the
leadership) wasn’t their primary goal, unrestrained power. The apparent
governing principle of (to name an example) Putin's behavior in public
office is L'Etat cest Moi, literally; "The State, that's Me".
The leader is held to be synonymous with the state, opposition to
malfeasance on the part of the leader is treated as anti-government
hatred, in effect as nothing less than treason. Putin's consistent
answer to criticism of his actions has been to defame his victim's and
his critics, to demand silence and obedience regardless of the
consequences to his subjects.
The statist leader refuses to be
subject to any legal restraints, nor does he pay heed to any superior
authority. His victims, those persons who are to be subjected to his
whims must be silenced and disarmed. This is nothing new, the military
arm, be it a sword, a pike or a firearm, is the symbol and instrument of
political authority. The citizens of a free nation, armed and ready to
defend their lives and liberties, have a commanding voice, which a
politician may ignore only at his peril. Augustus Caesar understood
this when he depoliticized the citizen body of the Roman Republic by
replacing the citizen militia based army of the republic with a
mercenary force loyal to himself.
If presented with a "take the
money and run" deal, a power addict would very likely refuse to accept.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Vladimir Putin, following the example of
such statist trash as Adolf Hitler and Salvador Allende, ultimately ends
up taking the final exit while cowering in a final redoubt.
As much as each of us may prefer otherwise the coming struggle is certain to be a long, bloody, fight to the death.