It appears Russia has won and frankly there is nothing we can do about it. There is no evidence that delaying the outcome will get Ukraine a better deal no matter how much blood is shed in the process. Trump is telling them to cut there losses.
If provocation in the modern world is so ambiguous then so is this. Ukraine has held it's lines for 3 years and there is something we could do, we could supply them with as much arms and information so long as they are willing to fight and the Ukrainian people are willing to fight. It's their blood the least we can do is supply them our iron. Also this isn't even 18th century justifications, bringing up US conflicts is just "two wrongs make a right Lisa". The US being unjustified in invading Iraq doesn't justify Russian invasion, particularly since they signed an agreement that said "we agree on borders".
The Europeans on the other hand clearly demonstrate their concern is making sure "Putin" doesn't win, even while they lack the means to prevent it. The longer Ukraine can delay things and the more damage they do to Russia the better.
Again, this is just taking all agency out of the Ukrainian people and assigning your personal opinions on Europe. Also welcome to war, where interests can be varied? You think Poland has a good reason to want to see that "Putin doesn't win"?
Fighting to the finish will be a lot more painful although, perhaps, morally rewarding.
And who's choice should that be? Russia's?
Its not a new dilemma. Read the Melian Dialog in Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War" 2500 years ago and you will see a philosophical dispute on almost the exact same theme.
Yeah it's a nice story but it's just that, a story, a justification for 18th century diplomacy. Also if Melos or Athens had nukes it changes the story doesn't it? If we're in fantasy land and a wizard disappears all of Russia's nuclear weapons tomorrow it's a different story, so if they want to pull the "it's just the way of the world" card they should bury those in the sea and let the world decide how it wants to handle it instead of hiding behind MAD.