That’s not necessarily my impression. Sure, Europe pushed out stories about how Russia is on its last legs, but there was also continuous hysteria around the notion that if Ukraine doesn’t win the war, Putin would go on to invade Europe. They frame this war as existential and that we ought to be very afraid.
Of course, this hysteria serves as propaganda for the profits of weapon manufacturers, so there’s a capitalist component to this as well.
That’s been what the narrative transitioned to over the past couple of years when it became clear that there wasn’t going to be an easy win. Initially they were all in a state of euphoria that they were finally going to take Russia down, then as the years past it turned more towards hysteria.
Recall Russia pulling chips out of washing machines, rouble being rubble, and all the other statements from the EU in the first year. They really thought that once the west put on maximum sanctions pressure then Russian economy would collapse. Nobody thought Ukraine would actually defeat Russia on the front lines, Ukraine was supposed to just hold on long enough for the sanctions to do their job, and for Russia to have a 90s style collapse.
That’s not necessarily my impression. Sure, Europe pushed out stories about how Russia is on its last legs, but there was also continuous hysteria around the notion that if Ukraine doesn’t win the war, Putin would go on to invade Europe. They frame this war as existential and that we ought to be very afraid.
Of course, this hysteria serves as propaganda for the profits of weapon manufacturers, so there’s a capitalist component to this as well.
That’s been what the narrative transitioned to over the past couple of years when it became clear that there wasn’t going to be an easy win. Initially they were all in a state of euphoria that they were finally going to take Russia down, then as the years past it turned more towards hysteria.
I honestly don’t remember the euphoria when the war began. Maybe because I’ve heard nothing but hysteria for so many years.
Recall Russia pulling chips out of washing machines, rouble being rubble, and all the other statements from the EU in the first year. They really thought that once the west put on maximum sanctions pressure then Russian economy would collapse. Nobody thought Ukraine would actually defeat Russia on the front lines, Ukraine was supposed to just hold on long enough for the sanctions to do their job, and for Russia to have a 90s style collapse.