After centuries of Russian imperialism they seem to believe that is their identity and destiny. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Europe gave them a great opportunity to become a trading partner and peacefully coexist as an equal with their neighbors. But Russia made the mistake of putting a former KGB guy in charge who had been an insider in the "strongman" Soviet empire, even being stationed near the front in the GDR. Maybe he feels humiliated that Russia is now only nearly twice the size of the second largest country on Earth (Canada).
Any peace agreement would allow Russia to rebuild and restock its military in preparation for the next invasion, and the next one would start from a better vantage point in a weakened Ukraine without NATO--making "progress" easier especially if they could enlist Hungary, Serbia, and/or other former SSRs in their imperial expansionism.
All hail the new Russian Empire! Welcome to St. Vladisberg!
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