Backed by a huge wall map, Vladimir Putin stands before a few trusted generals and advisors, and states, “We must regard my following strategic statements as top secret and essential to our survival.”

They look attentively at their leader.

“Once we’ve captured all enemy territory on the Black Sea, we will subjugate Moldova and let the Romanians know they shouldn’t be in NATO. And after I take Ukraine, however much of it I deem useful, we will again use Belarus as a staging area, this time to wave our sword in the faces of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia while from our Motherland we menace the latter as well as Estonia.”

“Please, President Putin,” says General Sergei Shoigu, the minister of defense, “our battlefield losses, of equipment as well as men, preclude invading anyone soon, especially the larger and better armed NATO forces. Furthermore, if Belarus invades Ukraine, it could immediately become a target of NATO.”

“All of you surely know what the Americans and NATO fear: I’d counterstrike them for any attack against our Belorussian comrades. Furthermore, I didn’t say we were going to attack the aforementioned enemies. In effect, we’d be sending them a message that we’ll protect our vital strategic interests. Perhaps the subtleties escaped you. Rather than being insubordinate to me, concentrate on getting us weapons and vehicles that don’t break down so often.”

Putin turns to the map, pokes it with his index finger, and pivots to say, “For the time being, we don’t need to invade further west. We’ll simply annex what is historically ours, Belarus, which needs our protection.”

Like a student, General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, raises a hand Putin ignores several seconds before saying, “I’ll take questions after you understand my next objectives. Having secured our western lines of defense, we will move south and absorb Georgia and Azerbaijan to seal off the Turks who could otherwise try to attack us through Armenia and those two hapless non-nations. We won’t need to acquire any other territories.”

“President Putin,” says Gerasimov, raising his hand again.

“What is it?”

“We’re absolutely unprepared to take and hold all of Ukraine and then grab Moldova and Belarus. NATO might well attack, especially if we try to conquer Georgia and Azerbaijan.”

“And why are we unprepared, General? I’ll tell you. It’s because you failed to understand our logistical needs for what you assured me would be a quick operation in Ukraine. You also failed to understand the toughness of the Ukrainians. Keep in mind, all of you, that last night I ordered two incompetent FSB intelligence officers confined to their homes. Be assured, General, I’ll soon be replacing you with a more capable man.”

Gerasimov rises to attention and says, “I’d be delighted to give you my resignation any time you ask for it.”

“I’ll let you know when you’re through. In the meantime, and thereafter, keep your mouth shut.”

This is a series of stories about the Russo-Ukrainian War