I think there's an even stronger argument about the true character of the conflict in Ukraine. If Ukraine and NATO were really wedded to the idea of peace, then wouldn't they have pushed hard for a negotiated settlement sooner, rather than later? When both Crimea and Donbass are predominantly ethnic Russian and Crimea is bristling with naval bases; the idea that the regime in Kiev is ever going to be welcomed with bread and salt there, is absurd, so why not let them go? Obviously it's because the West doesn't want peace, but war, until they get regime change in Russia.