[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

Arista, the west is already at war with russia, we just don't have troops in the arena yet, doesn't mean we are not at war

The West is engaging in a proxy war of attrition by endlessly supplying Ukraine with equipment while Russia slowly but surely depletes their own. It's a war of sorts but it's a far cry from an actual war, and we should all hope it doesn't become an actual war.

A war between the US and Russia at this point is unquestionably not ANY sort of conventional war... Ukraine has been holding Russia's best efforts at bay with equipment from the US that's basically their toys and trinkets. Literally their piddly little playthings. The actual firepower and tech (non-nuclear) that the US has onboard its ships and aircraft carriers is insane. Just to put one small part into perspective - the USAF has something like 120 active 5th-generation fighter jets in service... Russia has 25 total, only 5 active. And 4th gen and below aircraft are functionally ineffective against 5th gen aircraft. They simply can't even see them. And that's just one aspect.

Basically it wouldn't be a war it would be a bulldozer - and that leaves Russia with only two viable options in that scenario... pretty much immediate cease-fire and talks, or hit the big red button.

There's a reason the US is fighting via Ukraine.