[ukrthrowaway]

He also said that he wanted to negotiate a peace agreement which excludes NATO from Ukraine. Why not take that statement at face value too?

[rich_sasha]

Russia has already guaranteed Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in 1994. Oops then helped itself to Crimea and the “people’s republics”.

Now “don’t arm Ukraine and we pinky promise not to attack it further”? Hmm...

[ukrthrowaway]

If you take as an assumption that you can't negotiate with them then it's you who isn't willing to negotiate not them.

[boardwaalk]

He said he wanting negotiations and then attacked days later. Suggesting we take that statement face value is patently absurd.

[ukrthrowaway]

It was many weeks and the US basically said they would not even consider the main points at issue.

[AnimalMuppet]

When the abusive ex-husband tells you that dating his ex-wife is crossing his "red line", do you carefully consider his position? Or do you refuse to consider it, because that's none of his business?

Putin's demand was none of his business, and was completely unacceptable. It wasn't going to be considered, not in days, not in weeks, and not in decades.