feared a double-cross

In hindsight, the Ukrainians (and the French and the Germans) had been double-crossing the Russians with the Minsk agreements, which were twice signed and never implemented, so perhaps the Ukrainians had a guilty conscience?

I would say that Kiev is not a position to negotiate.

Sounds like projection. Ukraine and its masters were double crossing Russia for years and years.

The article has the nerve to excuse Ukraine for doubting Russia's good faith, when Ukraine has a history in this affair of promoting the most flagrant lies and deceits. It's like the tar pit calling the crow "black."

You seem to be missing a lot of context of these negotiations. They were not close to an agreement. There was no agreed to plan that Ukraine backed out of. They were still very far apart. Ukraine would only agreed to not join NATO if they were security agreements and Russia wouldn't agree to those.

The negotiations only came up after Moscow's initial plan for a quick strike decapitation failed.

They invaded from the East and also from Belarus in the North. The Convoy from the north failed. The plan to take the airport at Hostomel failed.

Taking the airport was a key objective. It was where the main attack force for Kyiv was going to land. In one day the Russians realized they weren't going to be able bring more forces to the airport because of the losses they suffered the first day. Hundreds of Russian paratroopers were said to be killed.

This is the background to negotiations. Russia's Plan A failed.

You could see the peace talks as a way for Russia to regroup and try again in 2023.

Russia wanted Ukraine not to join NATO and Ukraine wanted security agreements Russia would invade again. Russia rejected this.

Russia says Ukraine presented 'unacceptable' draft peace deal Reuters April 7, 202210:31 AM EDT https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-ukraine-presented-unacceptable-draft-peace-deal-2022-04-07/

More info on what the negotiator said https://meduza.io/en/news/2023/11/25/head-of-ukraine-delegation-at-spring-2022-peace-talks-confirms-russian-delegation-offered-to-end-war-if-ukraine-abandoned-nato-aspirations-says-leaders-had-no-trust-russia-would-follow-through

“This could only be done if there were security guarantees,” said Arakhamia in an interview with 1+1 host Nataliia Moseichuk. “We couldn’t just sign something, step back, [have] everyone breathe a sigh of relief, and then [have Russia] come in more prepared — because they [invaded], in fact, unprepared for such resistance. Therefore, we could only work when there was a hundred percent certainty that it wouldn’t happen a second time. And there is no such certainty.”

Furthermore, as Russia abandoned its plans to take Kyiv, what they did in Bucha was revealed. They found a mass grave behind a church, they found bodies of people with their hands behind their back executed at short range.

as mentioned in the article.

While both sides expressed readiness for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussions abruptly halted when Russian troops retreated from Kyiv. The withdrawal exposed the extent of apparent war crimes committed, including the Bucha massacre.

it doesnt even make sense. if you say "ok fine we wont join nato" and russia doesnt stop attacking you could just resume nato plans. you arent giving anything tangible up