Ukrainians and Russians are dying for a few miles of territory - and Ukraine faces destruction.

Does Putin want the war to carry on indefinitely, costing Ukrainian lives and American money? 

I think so.

The Ukrainian population is dwindling fast. Six million Ukrainians have left the country, mostly women many of whom will not return but marry abroad. Russia is much bigger and sustain casualties much more easily - in any case many more Ukrainian men have recently died or been wounded. When peace come who will replace the dead, injured and those who fled?

“When both sides’ gains are added up, Russia now controls nearly 200 square miles more territory in Ukraine compared with the start of the year,” the New York Times reports.

At the same time the Wall Street Journal published an article under the headline “The War in Ukraine Is Also a Giant Arms Fair,” subtitled “Arms makers are getting orders for weapons being put to the test on the battlefield.”

Ukraine cannot win, unfortunately, but the war reminds me of Robert Southey's 'The Battle of Blenheim', which he  wrote before he changed from being a radical to a Tory. In his day, the conservatives were the war party. They were not in Dr Johnson's day and the right is divided now.

"It was the English," Kaspar cried,

"Who put the French to rout;

But what they fought each other for,

I could not well make out;

But everybody said," quoth he,

"That 'twas a famous victory.



"My father lived at Blenheim then,

Yon little stream hard by;

They burnt his dwelling to the ground,

And he was forced to fly;

So with his wife and child he fled,

Nor had he where to rest his head.



"With fire and sword the country round

Was wasted far and wide,

And many a childing mother then,

And new-born baby died;

But things like that, you know, must be

At every famous victory.



"They say it was a shocking sight

After the field was won;

For many thousand bodies here

Lay rotting in the sun;

But things like that, you know, must be

After a famous victory.



"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,

And our good Prince Eugene."

"Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!"

Said little Wilhelmine.

"Nay... nay... my little girl," quoth he,

"It was a famous victory.



"And everybody praised the Duke

Who this great fight did win."

"But what good came of it at last?"

Quoth little Peterkin.

"Why that I cannot tell," said he,

"But 'twas a famous victory."