WW III

[I Shrugged]

If there is to be a world war, which significant countries will shed blood on the Russian side?

I don’t think any will. So it would be a Russian war but probably not a world war.

Now if it’s mostly a cold war, then I suppose russia would have several reasonably important allies.

[Xan]

If there is to be a world war, which significant countries will shed blood on the Russian side?

I don’t think any will. So it would be a Russian war but probably not a world war.

Now if it’s mostly a cold war, then I suppose russia would have several reasonably important allies.

Seems like China is the variable. I agree that as things stand now they won't fight on the Russian side. And certainly if the rest of the world gangs up, they can prevent Russia from winning in Ukraine. To hold it together they'd need to avoid actually invading Russia.

Of course the big caveat on "beating" the Russians is the nukes...

[I Shrugged]

Seems like we are in for a cold war or whatever will be the term for a war of cyber and economic disruption.

[I Shrugged]

If you accept that future wars will mostly not be fought with munitions and soldiers, but instead with control and destruction of systems and financial interests, then aren’t we already at war?

[Dieter]

I'd imagine that while China might not fight on the Russian "side", they might use this time to go after Taiwan while the West is distracted.

They would likely do at least some trade / co-ordination