Obviously you are right in that a negotiated solution would have been preferable, but negotiations require 2 sides willing to negotiate, and who is to say that NATO didn't try? I remember Russia amassing its trooos at the Ukrainian border. I remember Russia (and Ukraine!) saying that the US shouldn't be so scared that Russia would invade. Then they did. Then Europe and the US sent delegations (German and French Presidents) to talk to Putin. They were told to mind their own business. It seems that there is one party the invader, that is responsible for this disaster. Blaming the West for not being able to negotiate a peaceful solution seems out of place.