Part of the problem is a U.S. State Department that has almost no qualified personnel at the top.  Another problem is a U.S. President who is in way over his head and has "Mexicoitis" and can't see past a wall.  This is a very serious situation and will require unified action by the West.   As noted, Putin has huge and growing domestic problems.  A military action would unite Russians behind him or so he thinks.

Russia is guaranteed passage through the Bosporus.  That extra territorial port in Syria must be made inactive by blockade or other means.  Also, President Obama is not without fault in all of this due to past weak responses.  The question is do we wait for Putin to pass from the scene, he shows no signs of doing so, or let him run rampant with his expansionism.  Munich taught us something.  Do we act now or wait until he's at our doorstep.  Action, sadly, seems to be the best alternative.