How the hell do you negotiate with a party that reassures one day they won’t invade, and the next launches a major invasion? The only possible choice is to chop down, even if it takes a lot of chops, that capability of invasion.
I’d also point out that President Trump quite effectively personally cowed the Taliban, while he was in office. Of course that didn’t hold up once Biden was in.
I do agree on one point though: Russia is going to find out that “you will get what you give”. It will take time, but, circumstance will force stronger leadership in the West. Karma really is a bitch, Mr. Putin.
“How the hell do you negotiate with a party that reassures one day they won’t invade, and the next launches a major invasion?”
Context is important. Russia had troops mobilized on the border for weeks.
That is when you begin negotiations—before things get out of hand.
Imho Putin invaded because he concluded that the clowns in DC were more interested in name calling, finger pointing and virtue signaling than serious negotiations.