Russia is already looking for options in case of defeat

To be sure, Russia is already looking for historical examples of how to act after a military defeat. Analogies and techniques are being looked for in different directions, including the archives of the disaster-ridden tsarist experience.

One channel called the response of tsarist negotiators to the Japanese demand for reparations after the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 an "ideal" option.

The response of the Russian commissioners on August 12/July 30, 1905 to the peace terms proposed by Japan:

"Only defeated countries reimburse military expenses, but Russia is not defeated. No country can recognize itself as such if its territory was barely attacked by the enemy. Even if Japan had captured the entire Primorsky Krai, Russia's vital forces would not have suffered any damage, and it would have continued to fight."

"Only if the victorious Japanese troops invade Russia, then the nation could understand why the issue of reimbursement of military expenses was raised."

"The Russian commissioners consider it their duty to draw the attention of the Japanese commissioners to the fact that even at the Paris Congress, which took place after the capture of Sevastopol (Crimean War of 1853-56), the Allies decided not to raise the issue of compensation for military losses."

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In short, the smartest are already preparing. But this option will not work for us. Russia will pay for everything.

Source

About the author. Danylo Lubkivsky, Ukrainian diplomat, international policy expert

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.