Ukraine has, probably through the help of NATO/US intelligence, the capability to target some of Russia’s most significant and expensive military assets with things like drones and sabotage. If the gloves come off because Zelensky gets got, Putin and basically all the high ranking officials in Russia could reasonably expect to be targeted in response.
What I’m saying is they appear to have an unspoken agreement not to do that currently because it’s in each person’s best interest.
I think killing leadership is a Pandora’s box, especially given the high profile bombings deep in Russian territory that they were very clearly not prepared to defend themselves against.
“Nobody else can be trusted to run any of this stuff like I can. I’m essential to the running of this system and can never go away or even take time to consider that I might ever stop.”
Also I think a lot of them hate their kids, hate their spouses, don’t like their lives and don’t want to be home alone dwelling on how alienated and empty they are.
I hear the rentals are booming.
I mean the war wouldn’t end just because you killed the other side’s leader, they have other people who can step in, so it’s not really about slow walking winning. But both Putin and Zelensky want an end to the war in which they don’t personally get blown up. So yes they’ll let a lot of other people die instead to let the war play out without risking their own lives.