Think of it.. had zelensky gave up the donbask region. (Crimea was a gift to them afterall) had Putin and zelensky sat for a solution some 4years ago..
Zelensky was elected in 2019.
But this was not a feasible solution for many reasons other than calendar. Donbas is not Zelensky's to give - Ukraine is not a kingdom where the king owns the country. He (like other government officials) is constitutionally obligated to protect territorial integrity of Ukraine and to do otherwise would be treason. Also giving in to blackmail never works. You give Donbas to Putin today, he'll want Lviv, Poland, Germany, Portugal, and the state of Oregon next.
Instead of trying to appease murderous dictators we should be grateful to Ukrainians for trying to stop one.