MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) doctrine is the only valid doctrine. Putin is not suicidal.

In the light (and darkness) of Putin’s latest warning to Europeans and the west of risking lives from the expansion of conflict he started- the world needs to remind Russia’s leader that the only sane and legitimate nuclear doctrine remains Mutually Assured Destruction.  The Russian people have suffered more deaths and casualties than any other nation in world.

Putin is smart. He is not suicidal.  He knows that he will be targeted first with any retaliatory strike should he decide to use a nuke of any size - anywhere outside Russia’s Borders.  His generals, oligarchs, and their families want to avoid being vaporized as much as all Americans, Europeans, or Ukrainians.  

The next step must be for the US and other NATO states to make it absolutely clear with a rock-solid commitment that we will make the protection Russian civilians and troops the top priority, but only if they are outside Ukraine’s original borders.  But unlimited non-nuclear weapons will start flowing into Ukraine with the strictest of limitations for use ONLY within Ukraine and all of its territories that Russia has claimed after that nation surrendered its own nuclear weapons with the understanding they would be protected.  And the most sophisticated western military aid will continue flowing into Ukraine from multiple sources until all Russian soldiers are gone.  And the west will guarantee that Putin (or his surviving predecessor) will be allowed to keep their army and nuclear weapons.  And hopefully, someday, an enforceable global agreement will come to ensure no more wars will be launched to gain another nation’s territory.  And later, all nuclear states will agree to a rational control system with the intention of dismantling most nuclear weapons.  And using their materials in generating electrical power to replace fossil fuels.

The west must give Putin a date to have all his troops removed from Ukrainian lands.  Then follow through with military force within Ukraine if Russian forces have not exited.  If Putin does this, the world will not pursue his arrest for War Crimes.  But there will be an economic price to pay.  And those Russians who have benefited most from the corruption of Russia’s military industrial complex will be sought for payments for rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure.  If they or Putin refuse this deal, a hefty bounty will be put on all of their heads for any individual or group within Russia that removes any of them from their wealth and power, dead or alive.