Eastward expansion of the EU? There is increasing talk of the EU being on the skids, with a good part of it relying on Russia for energy; and NATO ain't what it used to be. The UN is useless because Russia has veto rights in the Security Council. Putin must be feeling pretty cocky. Only a naif would talk about "Comic Convention". There are no jokes to be had in this situation, except the one about Germany.

The Germany SDP connection provides much grist for thought. Scholz is a long time member of the German Socialists- dovetails well with Hilary Clinton's Democratic Party and their activities in the Ukraine- seemingly a more natural partner with Biden than Trump- yet Scholz has made comments supporting more Traditionalist positions- seemingly slightly less communist than Merkel- but German politics is fascinating in it's complexity- the coalition for example having a Christian component. Of course the region between Europe and Russia has seen changes since WWI and WWII and The Cold War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaf_Scholz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Merkel

If Germany and the EU stopped buying gas from Russia and replaced that with locally produced biogas. And very doable, Putin would get the only wake up call he will take notice of! As it is energy sales alone that keeps Russia afloat and the source of Putin's personal wealth and influence. Apart from that the western world needs to power on with MSR thorium and all alternative energy derivatives that then become available along with several huge medical upsides!
Alan B.

Putin's power comes from energy sales to the west! And it's those energy sales that are financing this current military action/activity/ sabre rattling! Has anyone bought less gas or oil from Russia? If there were no sales to the west, Putin would not be able to support the current military action!

And lost on western leaders unable or unwilling to transition away from fossil fuel! And the influence of the fossil fuel energy barons. Of which Putin is one!

Old king coal was a merry old soul and a merry old soul was he!

The more we change the more same we become! We are stuck where we are because we allowed ourselves to become the servants of the fossil fuel, energy barons! And way too dependent on them and their energy provision!

NATO should grow a spine and welcome the Ukraine into the fold of western nations, now, today!

Which would mean any attack on the Ukraine would be an attack on the entire western alliance. which could start test some of its nuclear missiles! The bellicose yap, yap hasn't stopped much but a cruise missile in Mr Putin's front door when he is at home just might? And if that is what it takes to end this war before it starts, it must be contenanced!
Alan B.

The US was able to get rid of Osama Bin Laden.
Surely they have the capability to get rid of Putin?
Think of the lives that would be saved.

Just a thought.

Ok that was fun.

Now to get serious about how to stop Putin.

Time magazine has a great article on the subject
that's worth a read:

http://time.com/6143645/how-to-stop-putin-invastion-ukraine/