"What we have is a war in an arena [like a football game] but it...

"What we have is a war in an arena [like a football game] but it is just as serious, the loser will lose big time, so Europe and The West best get serious."

Not a bad analogy, but I would say Ukraine is just the physical battlefield of a wider war that doesn't always involve direct conflict.
The West has time, they can allow russia to bleed out in Ukraine.

Ukraine doesn't have the time as they are burning through their people as well.
But if the west really steps up, putin will be a cornered rat, with limited options.
This could be disastrous.

They have to leave russia an out (not necessarily an out for putin)
The West just need to continue to support Ukraine in bleeding russia,
I think this is the best resolution for the globe.
I just hope their are some well placed russians who believe it as well.