You've never haggled? You don't walk away when the opening bid is high.
Discussion
Bear in mind this is an existential threat to Russia, they need Iron clad security guarantees or risk being Balkanised.
Merkel actually admitted, after the horse had bolted of course, that previous "treaties" with Russia were nothing more than an attempt to buy time and arm Ukraine.
When trust is that broken, it makes sense to me that any diplomatic proposal would start with a very high opening bid, and perhaps concessions made elsewhere.
Russia pokered too high. Their entire strategy was that they'd quickly overrun Ukraine and European namby-pambies would just sit on their hands and cry.
They need to stop drinking the koolaid they give to the Americans. 😂