And the US spent the first part of WWII doing exactly what they're doing now until they were forced into a more direct role.
The U.S. was on one side pearl-harbored and on the other side
war was declared on it by Adolf Hitler (Dec 11 1941). Putin has
to be a lot more aggressive for the U.S. to be forced into direct
action. The U.S. could be as dumb as to have invaded Iraq and
Vietnam. This time around they don't need to fight the war to benefit
from it. I expect Russia will make nice with the U.S. after the war
while the EU and the UK will take a joy ride to economic collapse.
The U.S. stands to be rewarded big time.