hardly seems an extravagant price to pay
Russia - except for maybe the Khmer Rouge and Maoist China - is the one place that is willing to burn everything to the ground before it surrenders. Not for something like Afghanistan (1979-1989), but for something we view as existential.
I don't subscribe to this, maybe, but I am telling you that is how people there understand things.
We don't care, if all your museums fill up with what is rightfully our legacy. Hopefully it delivers you some happiness and contentment.
Almost nobody cares about "what could have been"....
Things are rough. The most committed, are willing to burn all the accomplishments since 1991 to the ground, just to make you feel pain.
Is this a good place for both of us to be? I hope not.
Causing each other impossible pain - seems like a stupid goal to me.