So in essence, OP is arguing that the United States has to support Ukraine not because Ukraine itself is essential to our national security or interests, but because we publicly committed to Ukraine's defense aka opened our mouths and now we don't want to lose face. The problem is, Ukraine is still not essential to our national interests and not worth the consequences and costs of fighting a war with Russia or bleeding our resources to fund Ukraine fighting a war with Russia and risking escalation all the while. It is still wiser to lose face in this scenario then continue; or to pursue an end to the conflict that allows us to save face but make concessions to Russia which do not permit us the full propaganda victory we desire. To dig our heels in merely in the name of saving face is both incompetent and morally bankrupt. The true culprit the OP has unwittingly highlighted is our policymakers who put us in this situation to begin with and continue to double down. Russia called our bluff because Ukraine and the Black Sea ARE vital to their national interests and the war was worth the risks for them to prevent a NATO intrusion in their backyard.

Simpletons like the OP think the United States should commit itself to Ukraine and also commit ourselves to every other flashpoint of the world while also facing domestic chaos and social upheaval at home. These people are delusional and blinded by an idealism that ignores pragmatism and would demand the U.S. to involve itself in every conflict all over the world, accelerating our national decline and making us enemies of half the world. An empire clinging to its past prestige at all costs instead of adapting to a changing world.

The OP spends their entire post telling us how vital it is to strengthen ourselves against a threatening China, by committing ourselves to an endless pit of expense and war against Russia...

The sickness of this mindset has infected our national policy and it is severe enough to prove fatal. We need an awakening that changes our entire course, not MORE neoconservatism.