Erik Engheim,

Putin's behavior is base mobster stuff. OK there can be some (not many) of his long winded grievances that have some merit. One that ordinary Russians lost their (small) but guaranteed economic platform with the titanic and rapid shift to a capitalist system after the fall of the USSR.

BUT

Putin essentially wanted Ukraine to remain as a subordinate of Russia -- and paying rent. When Ukraine wanted OUT of this relationship and did not respond to Putin's threats, Ukrainians then had to be punished and brought back into Russia's fold.

Unfortunately for Putin, he was only partially successful and now he has a grim future (he could manage to hang on in even more seclusion and dictate over an impoveraged Russia).

A retirement package should be organized where he is guarantee security and allowed to keep a portion of his loot. Putin (and others) have to be agreeable to this most unpalatable however practical solution.

The other big "helper on the sidelines" is Xi Jinping. If one person could stop the carnage, he could. Some deft diplomacy should be done to point out thatXi Jinping and China could be a real winners -- and the U.S. also.

For sure there will be plenty of surprises before all this is done.

Many thanks