Are We Sleepwalking into Wwiii?

That's it really. I mean regardless of which side (if any) you take on Ukraine war...there's a growing feeling that this is the beginning of next world war. And in light of this things seem kinda of pointless you know.

What do you think? How do you cope?

PS: pls don't make this into another warzone. The question is just the last one really. How do you cope if you have this view on things.

EU citizen here.

EU citizen here.

During the Korean War, we believed WW3 was just around the corner.

... and during the Berlin Crisis.

... as we did when Vietnam got hot.

... just like we did when the Jom-Kippur-War broke out.

... or when Able Archer 1983 was a bit too realistic for soviet tastes

... then there were several rounds of Gulf Wars...

... remember 9/11?

What you are feeling is the "normal" state. In fact, between 2001 and 2022 is probably the longest time Europeans have not been expecting to get turned into nuclear ash by the madmen of the two superpowers. At least we can live calmly knowing we are the designated primary target and likely won't have to die slowly like the rest.

Yes, we are sleepwalking into WW3, much in the same way we sleepwalked into WW2. The West has completely misunderstood Putin, and will continue to do so until it's too late to stop these events (a strong show of force and a no-fly-zone would have stopped this, but it's too late now). Scholz is the Chamberlain of our age.

Putin aims for territorial expansion to reclaim the USSR plus some buffer space, and to secure Russia's place as a world power again. This must happen by force since Russian economic and cultural influences are insufficient.

Nothing will dissuade Putin from his aims, as he believes this to be an existential crisis that threatens the very existence of Russia if he doesn't act now.

He started on this adventure because of bad intel from the FSB about his armed forces, Ukrainian resistance, and world reaction. The plans were modeled after Operation Danube ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact_invasion_of_Czecho... ), and were supposed to become a fait accompli so that there'd be nothing for the West to do, like all the other times before. Except it didn't work out that way this time. It's far too late to stop now; either he wins, or Russian ambition is destroyed forever. Granted, the ambition has been reduced to only Donbas, but he still needs to walk away with territory and then prepare for his next slice.

You can read it in Karaganov's own words here: https://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/ukraine/2022/04/ru...

But even if this goes so far that actual nukes start flying (an iffy proposition even for him), the first ones will land in Ukraine as a warning.

Nothing to see and walk along is my attitude. Maybe I'll throw in a cabin if wifie allows but she probably doesn't so whatever. If nuclear missiles start to fly around and there is still time I'll calmly tell her "I told you".

The Second Cold War started up around 2010 and it just turned hot. I doubt it will turn into WW3 but this isn't the last proxy war the US and Russia will fight.

How do you cope?

If you're like me and sleep better with fewer unknowns, understand Russia's and the US's military capabilities—I highly recommend Russia's Military Revival—and read about some modern nuclear strategy. We've evolved past "fire everything at every population center." Matthew Kroenig has publish some good stuff, and elucidates ideas like "warhead sinks."

If you don't sleep better the more you know, get real into sports and another hobby–something you enjoy you can talk about with others that occupies your time. Most people can get by just fine without following the news.

You can manage your own anxiety.