What if Z won’t take a deal?
Are you ok with Putin annexing Ukraine or installing a puppet government?
There are no other choices.
The Russians acted in Ukraine 1) to protect their naval base in Crimea and 2) to liberate the people in the annexed area that overwhelmingly are ethnically and culturally Russia and voted for a President that was illegally removed from office in a coup we fomented.
There is absolutely no reason to believe Russia every wanted anymore territory than what its annexed.
I don’t care. I spent enough time in Ukraine to see what a dumpster fire it is. Let it all be. There’s enough huge problems right in my own yard. I’m not interested in that one.