I had hoped that they would be the adults in the room and find another way to deal with it.

Being adults in the room would cost Russian lives in Donbass. One needs to concentrate on what has happened in Donetsk just before Russia started the SMO.

Still, consider what would have happened if the US invaded a territory in their usual Shock and Awe style not leaving a blade of grass alive. We have historical examples, sadly .. Vietnam, Iraq and many others.