[Widget Jr]

"The terms of that settlement would have been for Russia to withdraw to the positions it held before launching the invasion on February 24. In exchange, Ukraine would “promise not to seek NATO membership and instead receive security guarantees from a number of countries.”"

Given that Ukraine and NATO knew by April Russia intended to take the entire country, the Russian army was outside of Kyiv, why should Zelensky have trusted Putin to honor any agreement?

Any deal Russia offered was just to by time for their army to regroup and try again. When it comes to Russian irredentism and the 2nd CCCP, Putin can not be trusted.

[MinorityRepublican]

Any deal Russia offered was just to by time for their army to regroup and try again.

Ultimately, that is probably why Zelensky declined. Russia will learn from their mistakes and launch from their bases in Crimea and Donbass again.