US will take ‘catastrophic’ action if Vladimir Putin uses nuclear weapons

This sounds like just another back and forth "check" move by the US, followed by a retreat as a retaliatory counter move like the possible sabotage of Nord Stream. It's like every move he makes is a thrashing gasp for air but he somehow fools himself into thinking is a mighty roar.

Putin grossly miscalculated this invasion and now there's no way out for him except forward. If he concedes, he will seem weak and be devoured from within. But if he continues, the US will push from behind and bleed him dry, slowly, drop by drop at the hands of the Ukrainians. And so either he dies on the Ukrainian battle field or dies in his own home, one way or another, this game is pretty much over for him.

But I can't help feeling that this whole situation seems like rhyming echos of The Cold War at its onset. Each move is like a dagar in the world's political relationship with Russia and the unraveling of commercial threads that bind everyone so precariously together. And isolation seems to be a safe final refuge of despots.