Zelensky is not a fool or a coward for desperately pursuing negotiations.
Can you believe this clown Zelensky? He actually called president Putin after the Russian attack had already began and then complained how Putin is not answering his calls. Who are you that Putin should answer your calls... He had many years to implement the Minsk II agreements that Ukraine signed in 2015 which would provide special autonomy for the Donbass region, instead he lied, made empty promises, excuses and stalled every time.
youtu.be/letNHI4y4Do
Despite 40% Ukrainians speaking Russian language, the Kiev regime started stopping schools in Russian language for pupils and made a decision for 2023 to also stop the Polish, Hungarian and Romanian minorities from having classes in schools in their own language.
Putin said often is this guy Zelensky even normal or sane? We can be at Kiev in 24 hours... He repeatedly tried diolomacy but to no avail. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Zelensky felt he had USA and EU on his side and behind his back so he decided not to honor the Minsk II agreement which the Kiev regime signed.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_agreements