Several years ago, I read books by the late Fr Malachi Martin. In “Keys Of This Blood”

he detailed how Pope John Paul II was of the firm opinion that “the end of history” fallacy would come to its own bad end
in and around the Caucasus.

No, this was not scriptural prophesying, it was the considered opinion of a man noted for encyclopedic geo-political knowledge.

Looks like the old mackerel-snapper may have called it right. Keeping it from spreading like things did in 1914 is the best that can be done.

I still believe that Boyd-like use of airpower
perhaps coupled with Naval assets on the Black Sea will do the job.