I don’t think that scenario has such an optimistic outlook in store. The people in the best position to inherit the seats of power in the Russian state are Putin’s closest clique, who are, for the most part, ultranationalists, who would not only see their newfound power deligitimazed if they immediately signed peace, but would also be acting against their own ideology. Even if there are powerful people in Russia who would prefer to transition towards a different kind of country, they don’t have a clear route to reach power.
I don’t think that scenario has such an optimistic outlook in store. The people in the best position to inherit the seats of power in the Russian state are Putin’s closest clique, who are, for the most part, ultranationalists, who would not only see their newfound power deligitimazed if they immediately signed peace, but would also be acting against their own ideology. Even if there are powerful people in Russia who would prefer to transition towards a different kind of country, they don’t have a clear route to reach power.