Defend Putin and criticize the US for their actions. Talk about how going to the brink of war is dangerous and mention the Cuban Missile Crisis and the importance of keeping a level head. Express concern about the potential destruction of Eastern Europe and the world in trying to "save" it.
I never said Putin wasn’t a “bully”, but then that term is easily applied to our heads of state as the record is quite clear on. From the Websters:
“one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable  “. Well we do a lot more then threaten to those small countries we prey on regularly. What I specifically was referring to in my bully comment was to go from bully to occupier of Europe (Eastern or otherwise)was simply a daft comment, and I see you have provided no source to support it.
Everything you apply to Putin can easily be applied to the US( dangerous and aggressive). Re the CMC, that is a perfect example of the idiocy of going to the brink.  It wasn’t facing down a bully that saved our bacon, but a Russian sub captain who kept his head and didn’t start armageddon.
The danger is that in trying to “save” E.E., we destroy it ( and the world in the process). Maybe you’d call that a “moral victory”, I call it insanity.