Should Russia get a black eye and Ukraine be pleased by Chinese assistance, when the Western spigot gets turned off, then China will have an amazing hook on Ukraine. Putin quietly gets told his place, Ukraine has stockpiles of Western gear to sell and China has another part of the Belt and Road.

Of course, the West will try to keep the funds flowing but without “big strong Russian bear” knocking at their door they’ll drop them like a new year’s resolution.

Now, Ukraine gets to play Belle of the ball courting China and the West and in the end The Rich win. Exactly according to plan.