I have the impression that they expected Ukraine to quickly surrender or at least agree that Russia could have some of their territory. The problems with their logistics and troops that are not motivated would have never have been revealed. They were not prepared for a protracted conflict. In a way it was an intelligence failure.
They are in the process of enforcing the terms of the Minsk agreement and there is nothing the US can do about it. And they’re doing it without carpet-bombing from 20,000 feet for weeks on end, which is typically what the US does.
Many of us exceptional Americans form our opinions using a weird blend of fake news and black and white John Wayne movies.
They entered Ukraine believing the Ukrainians would see them as liberators. Instead, the Ukrainians saw them as aggressors. And, wanting no part of Russian ideology.