At first way back, it was Ukraine not in NATO. Then s hit fan and Donetsk and Luhansk were at war with the west of Ukraine. Russia took Crimea and held referendum. No surprise massive Russian ethnic population voted to join Russian Federation. Then Minsk fiasco happened twice. Russia was happy to have Crimea back. Wasn’t too interested in war, but helped Donetsk and Luhansk. Then more talk of NATO getting in Ukraine. Russia invades and bluffs at taking Kiev. A settlement is almost made that would only have given Crimea to Russia and let the two regions be more self governed but still a part of Ukraine. Each agreement is scuttled by the western interests. Russia goes all in. Starts taking territory. West cuts off speaking to Russia at all. I personally think Russia makes mistakes in annexing more territories into the federation.
At every step Russia said we want this to stop. Here is what we want. Neutral Ukraine. Don’t mess with ethnic Russians in Ukraine. No reasonable offers in reply. So they went further.
Now the offer from Russia is a much bigger bitter pill to swallow. Similar to original demands in many ways, but now including a far larger amount of territory.
And still, the west wants Ukraine in NATO. A neutral Ukraine would be a buffer for both NATO and Russia. But they must have more NATO right on the border with Russia. After decades of publishing and talking about plans to break Russia up and control it. Turn this situation around and imagine Ukraine as Mexico or Canada. Even tiny Cuba. West would have gone full out war too if Russia was going into those places with a military alliance.
Again I think Russia made serious mistakes. Especially taking territory into the federation. Burned bridges of negotiation there. Making it harder to come to terms now. But the overall history of this war is one mistake and overreach after another by many sides. A far reaching European security plan should have been formulated after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It would have saved money and lives. But some folks always need an enemy to conquer/control/pillage. And that does not apply to just one side ion this fiasco.