That is what the negotiating table was supposed to be in the first pace.
The United States should have tried to stop war by negotiating along with Ukraine.
The US was saying no and discouraging (maybe even bullying) Zelensky to not sit down and negotiate.
Putin wanted government change and territory annexation, probably most or all of Ukraine (based on his theory and practice that all Russian speaking/formerly Russian speaking and culture-related people are property of Russia). Is there something there for one duly elected govt and sovereign nation (even if they/it are/is corrupt to some extent and struggling economically-) to negotiate over? Hmm.