My question wasn't addressed to you, but I have little hope that Cat will ever deign to respond, still less engage in honest discussion.

"engage in meaningful dialogue with Putin" : it's nice to think that might have made a difference to his plans, but can you suggest a list of concessions that any potential partners might have put on the table to avoid the invasion? Let's be specific. Given that he aimed (and failed) at regime change, before changing his mind and focusing on territorial gains, what might he have settled for instead?

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}