Ukraine would have been just fine as a neutral state. But, because they want the freedom to choose as a sovereign country to subvert democracy, they choose to destroy their country. The Western Ukrainians, that is. The Russians are not in Ukraine because of Ukrainians per se, they are there because of the US who has no business being next door to Russia, arming, and training the Ukrainians under the pretense of NATO membership. Even today, the US continues to say Ukraine will still be part of NATO, which is egging on the Russians. The US wants no diplomacy with Russia. There is absolutely zero interest in any kind of compromise with Russia. The US wants its own way, their way, or the highway. No consideration for the security concerns of other countries, the US will get in trouble, and bring victims along with it. The war was preventable by the US, and the US is the principal reason why Russia acted preemptively.