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).
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.