Is it such a bad thing?
Crimeans are happier under the Russians than Ukraine.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2015/03/20/one-year-after-russia-annexed-crimea-locals-prefer-moscow-to-kiev/#1d53b9ea5951
Why not recognize it and do something simple to ease tensions?
Is it a bad idea to change our policy about arming Syrian rebels. The war has gone on far to long and caused far too much death and destruction. Maybe having a dictator instead of war would be better. Liberals rightly said that Iraq was better under Saddam did they not?
Putin won't be in power forever. There was a long procession of leaders in the USSR when Reagan was in office and we ended up Gorbachev.