He isn't saying that a woman would not have started the war. So either he claims any woman leader would be so incompetent that Russia would lose the war, or so competent that she would win the war faster (which would according to him be a good thing).
'cause liberal feminists are unironically super sexist, usually in the "putting women on pedestals made of pure light" kind of way
the misogynistic rage that follows the failure of any given woman to stay aloft under such conditions is usually a sight to behold as well
putting women on a pedestal encapsulates it so well, I'm embarrassed that wasn't my first thought. some naive part of me didn't want to see that pathetic, simpish side to them, I suppose.