While the risk of escalation can’t be ruled out, it must be balanced against the risks of allowing this conflict to drag on as Ukrainians and Russians are killed daily. Putin will negotiate seriously when he sees no military path forward — and that may happen if his hold on Crimea becomes untenable.
The only way Russia’s hold on Crimea becomes untenable is if we intervene militarily. I notice Ukraine never fought back or tried to retake it when Russia stole it.
“ when Russia stole it.”
Are you for real?
Crimea was part of Russia until 1954, when the Ukrainian head of the Soviet Union (Krushchev) stole it and added it to the Ukrainian SSR.