Re: Europe needs to stick the finger out and rebuild the military industry
So, according to you, is Putin a threat to Europe? I mean, what can he do? It's not like he's going to take whatever tanks he have left and drive to Berlin 
IMO Putin is stuck in a position he never wanted to be. He thought he'd take Kiev by force, change the government to a pro-Russian one and from that point fake all elections like he's doing in Russia and in puppet states like Chechenya. Instead he lost a few refineries. Lost pump stations that allowed him to sell oil, lost gas pipeline, Baltic States are no longer buying his power... EU was supposed to freeze to death without Russian gas and nothing happened...
Vance is right, the US shouldn't support Ukraine for free.
IMO Putin is stuck in a position he never wanted to be. He thought he'd take Kiev by force, change the government to a pro-Russian one and from that point fake all elections like he's doing in Russia and in puppet states like Chechenya. Instead he lost a few refineries. Lost pump stations that allowed him to sell oil, lost gas pipeline, Baltic States are no longer buying his power... EU was supposed to freeze to death without Russian gas and nothing happened...
Vance is right, the US shouldn't support Ukraine for free.
Putin is a threat to anything that is near Putin. I mean... Ruzzia invaded Finland not that long ago, they have gone after a number of countries around and now Ukraine. Do we need to get it Morse coded to our radios to understand? His aim is to rebuild the extension of the old USSR and that includes the Baltics, the Balcans, Poland, half of Germany, Slovakia, ... One bit at a time, by subversion or invasion don't matter.
Of course he did not want to get into this position, but he seems ok with keeping it going. I think the rationale is "I am not going to run out of people, I am not going to be deposed or killed by anyone - Ruzzians will starve before revolting - the economy.. phew... I have enough money and the CEOs that complaint will be sent to Siberia.
To reach peace, Ukraine needs to push and gain ground in the Donbas. That would create a sufficiently unconfortable situation to make Ruzzia seek peace honestly and in fair terms.
US is not supporting Ukraine "for free", there is obviously an economic interest and a desire to avoid Ruzzia's being too strong from what looks like an innevitable conflict with China.