we start with a paean to historical idealism

Wars end long before armistices are signed. A war’s end, after all, is a matter of will, of spirit—and popular will is only haltingly, grudgingly reflected in the political machinery of peace talks.

“it’s not a contest of production and material resources, it’s just a Triumph of The Will.”

it only gets worse from there, as the author argues that Ukrainian morale is “nearly euphoria” while Russian morale is in the gutter, as evidenced by their civilians’ failure to dig in and fight regular troops:

Its citizens in Kursk fled the Ukrainian advance like smoke in the wind, leaving homes and possessions without so much as a whimper.