There's no need to respond with force. Russia will lose in the long-term due to sanctions as long as Republicans don't cock everything up even more by making deals with Russians and slowing down trade in the global west. Russians are wasting money and gear in Ukraine and becoming weaker. It's just a matter of time before China starts making claims on land they lost to the Soviets. Russians will lose this war the same way they lost the cold war; by cutting themselves off from the maritime economy.
China will never allow Russia to lose. They know they are next on the list. It seems more that the west in its decline will become less and less relevant. The west needs to understand that they are no longer the only dominant player.
