Irony wasn't necessary. Reagan defeated the Soviets by releasing American oil production, making the maintenance of a deep water fleet too expensive. The current fracking boom is helping to do the same thing. With a LOT of deregulation and a little serious fiscal discipline (like doing something about military procurement) the same can be done again to make acquisition of Crimea too expensive. So we know about the stick. What about the carrot? What do we have to offer these stupid thugs that will get the Russians to toss Putin and play straight? Mining technology? I thought you might have some ideas.
One car bomb and Putin would be no further threat to the world. THAT is what it WILL take.