This may work as a stopgap measure for small countries, but ultimately someone has to stand up to the bully. By this logic, the US and Britain should have negotiated for peace with Hitler and Hirohito to cut their losses? I don't think so. "Speak softly and carry a big stick" has worked quite well for the US, first winning WW II with overwhelming industrial might and willingness to fight, then containment with USSR/China during the Cold War. If politically/economically starving Putin doesn't work, NATO should annihilate him (along with our pro-Putin Republicans).