Scott Ritter is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer who served in the former Soviet Union implementing arms control treaties, in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, and in Iraq overseeing the disarmament of WMD
“Thousands of Russians are rushing to flee the country ahead of this weekend, as rumors swirl that Vladimir Putin could soon declare martial law, close the borders and crack down even harder on domestic dissent,” Axios reports. “For as devastating as the humanitarian situation in Ukraine has become, widespread suffering is rapidly arriving at Russia’s own doorstep.”
As he should if they did not shape up and pay up. Their weakness and being disorganized, along with Biden's being elected are the root cause of Putin concluding that an opportune time to attack had arrived. Which he did. And he is running into resistance but will still probably take the whole country. And even if he does not, he had concluded that the Biden/Nato/Europe in disarray scenario was still his best shot at it.
Remember when the Democrats did not trust Bolton's character Democrats Block a Vote on Bolton for the Second Time Rather, it was a question of character that led Senators to block votes on his confirmation for months, such that he ultimately got the job via a recess appointment by Bush.