Appeasement II

History may not repeat itself but it does cyclically resemble itself.
At the close of World War I, the two major foes of the West, Germany and Austria-Hungary, had been defeated in their aim of European domination.
Within 20 years, two (totalitarian) corporate states had arisen – Germany and Italy.
During this time, one of those dictatorships, Italy, invaded a militarily inferior opponent and conquered it, while the free world condemned the action. The League of Nations passed toothless sanctions and otherwise did nothing.
Eventually, the weakness and temporizing of the West led to World War II.
After the Second World War, we had the Cold War.
At the end of the (First) Cold War, the two major foes of the West, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, had been defeated in their aim of world domination.
Within 20 years, two corporate states had arisen – Russia and China.
At this time, one of those dictatorships, Russia, has invaded a militarily inferior opponent and is attempting to subjugate it, while the free world condemns this. The United Nations will pass an ineffectual resolution and otherwise do nothing.
Eventually, the weakness and temporizing will lead to an all-out Cold War II, or will it be World War III?