Ukraine could simply accept the loss of territory in the east and the return of Crima (sic) to the Motherland.
Why should they "simply accept" having their lands annexed ? How can you rationalize that in a modern-day society ? (Let's ignore the Israel/Palestine conflict for the purposes of this discussion - that's just another unfortunate clusterfuck that is not going to be resolved in our lifetime)
If I have my history right, Crimea was gifted to Ukraine by Khrushchev. How can you rationalize taking back gifted lands while retaining any semblance of honor or trust ?
Your history is right however there is a little detail in the gift... It was ussr. Meaning that all countries of the block were seen as one, and the people comrades. So the people of Russia didn't oppose the transfer. It would be like Oklahoma giving its western portion to Texas and years later Texas leaving the union... Sooner or later the American flag will fly back on former Oklahoma.
Then you have to understand the vicious nature of the attack on Ukraine. It's typical from the Obama/a certain uk/Europe/and western oligarch... While Putin was celebrating sport in sotchi... Those western power did a revolution in Ukraine, not for a free and fair democratic country. But some Jewish/ukrain oligarchic alliance hidden or covered with the neo nazi as butchers (nuland and her chosen one with his little head). I don't get the relation but it's crazy how some Jews supported this Ukrainian war (Russia is Christian?)
Now Putin was engaged in Syria with bashEeer the butcher. And I don't know but to be sure of failure Obama let down everyone (he is certainly Shia or root for them or what ever the reason) but the fact are there. And decided to do shit on Ukraine.
But the eastern Ukrainian understood that their products were integrated with the Russian market, Crimea is a nice place to station troops and more than that someone had to kill to stop those western forces from making further gains... Sooner or later they would be in the suburbs of Moscow. Game on, time to spill blood... Let's see how those Ukrainian invaders and their foreign friends are made.
NOW the question is for the actual corrupt worthless Ukrainian to ask themselves. Not how long Russia will be able to sustain this conflict (look at the setup from the Russian side it could go on for ever, perfect setup) but when will Russia see a better option and then clean them all worldwide? You know in America we fucking don't care of all this shit. Russia and Shanghai is an HEDGE against the hubris of DC and we all hope they become more free than the us (speech, religion, ownership). So one day for reason belonging only to USA and who knows with a great deal with Russia all those that supported the revolution in Ukraine will finally have their day. Why? Because the muppets that are now in place and their supporters worldwide could become enemies of the deal (aka the end of the Clinton gang (joe Biden son making money in Ukraine) and be hunted worldwide until they are all jailed, dead or executed. At least there is no challenge in that...
The sheep lives because the lions hunt the cow... Don't forget the sheep has no saying.