Quote Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09 View Post
BW--it is not what he gains but what he can "sell" and right now he is selling the story "it ain't his troops, money or mercenaries" extremely well.

Like water off a ducks back one might say.

Remember what he is selling is not always focused at the EU/US but at his internal consumer who will elect him overwhelmingly in the next election.
An invasion could have been just as easily been sold to that audience. Protecting Russian people from harm, etc. The Russian people have never not backed him on this and would have backed other options. He controls the message and could have crafted the message needed to sell an invasion to protect the Russian minorities in Ukraine.