As part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the US did pay Mexico for the lands Mexico lost. Also the US agreed to take on the debts that Mexico owed to Americans who had settled in those territories.
I was/am serious. I'm a bit dubious about whether Dubious was serious, but it works for me. The sanctions, the international backlash, the upheaval in the Russian stock market, the slam to their economy and, most importantly for Mr. Putin, the financial hit to his cronies probably adds up to more than what Ukraine owes already. It wouldn't be a wash, because Putin would get away with stealing the Crimea, but closure of a sort would be welcomed by a hell of a lot of movers and shakers in both business and various governments. In my humble opinion.
I'm glad you were serious, because I think the idea is brilliant. Probably too brilliant for the parties involved, unfortunately.
