The idea of militarily pushing out the Russian forces from Donbas and Crimea is not the best approach. The political approach has to be first and foremost.

The US and the West must talk to powers that do talk to Putin, namely China, India, Indonesia, and many others. When India and China came to blows up in the Himalayas, Russia got involved and helped deescalate.

Now it is India’s turn to do the same for Russia and the United States. Modi and Jaishankar must step in and help deescalate the situation.

I think the middle ground here is that Russia agrees to pull out, and Ukraine agrees to an internationally organized referendum for Donbas, Luhansk, and Crimea.

If Putin is talking to nobody, he is more likely to end up in the madman situation where he contemplates a suicidal nuclear attack.

Nothing is worth a nuclear attack and counterattack. That whole scenario has to be unthinkable.