Russia no longer considers the eastern oblasts to be part of Ukraine. Much like Crimea, when the residents of those regions voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, it became a legal dispute, with Russia arguing that they are only protecting Russian citizens and territory.
There's a history here that most people in the West have conveniently forgotten. The idea that this conflict started in Feb 2022 misses a decade of build up of this conflict, which literally started with a coup/civil war that Russia wasn't directly involved in. Both sides are pushing propaganda...
Unfortunately, Ukraine is caught between EU/Western and Russian interests, and like it or not, without dialogue, Ukraine will cease to exist as a sovereign, independent state.