The Ukrainians, for now, have stopped the Russians. They have done a much better job than I, or, for that matter, a bunch of better-connected experts, believed possible.

Putin, however, is still president of Russia. He is angry and hurt that a less powerful nation knocked the socks off his nuclear power, one of the largest armies in the world nation. He needs a face saving way out of the mess he has made. Barring the remote, but still possible Russian coup, there are few possible face saving events that would stop the bloodshed in the Ukraine and leave Putin looking like a hero to his people. According to the experts, while keeping in mind that the experts have been mostly wrong about the war so far, is that Putin is about to turn his canons onto Eastern Ukraine and try to bomb it into submission. So more war, more bloodshed for the Ukrainians because Putin needs to look like a winner even though he is a loser.

What to do? The whole world, including Putin’s nominal allies in Belarus and China, now know him to be a liar and a loser and just all around asshole. The world knows the Ukrainians won the war. Well, not everyone. The Russians who have not been exposed to western media probably don’t know the Ukrainians have won the war. If the war continues, there is no guarantee that the Russians will perform any better than they have to date. Perhaps Putin could be persuaded that to save his nation any further humiliation, the world will let him claim victory as long as he stays within his borders. Since, at this point, the Russians are the only people who need to be convinced Putin is the winner, can’t we all agree to just tell the Russians they have won the war.

Now, before you get all grumpy about this, give me a hearing.

Even though the Ukrainians have beaten the Russians soundly, they have been bloodied by the war. It would be better if the war was over. The world outside of Russia knows the truth, only the Russians would be kept in the dark. Let’s face it, the Russians are used to being lied to by their government. It is nothing new. The wise ones would figure it out, and the rest would think Putin is a winner and that’s all that matters. Putin can even say he has decided to be magnanimous with the Ukrainians by allowing them to keep their government. Putin saves face. The Ukrainians can start rebuilding their war torn country. The refugees could return. The war would be over.

It would take some co-ordination but I think the citizens of the world could agree to this little white lie to save the Ukrainians any further suffering.