Peacekeeping missions are deployed by the United Nations, not Russia unilaterally.

To the best of my knowledge peacekeepers don't have conflict of interests either. Vladimir Putin is going to be a problem in the region for a very long time considering Russia is as corrupt in it's politics and elections as it is.

This might be an opportunity for NATO to have deployments to the Ukraine border as peacekeepers as well. NATO needs to decide about the intensity of the threat to Ukraine. I don't see Ukraine remaining independent, so much as a member state of NATO. The deterrent this time was not there. NATO is a deterrent to Russian aggression in the region and Ukraine cannot afford to be without it.

February 21, 2022
By Andrew Osbor and Dmitry Antonov

Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent on Monday and ordered the Russian army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area, upping the ante in a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.

Putin told Russia's defence ministry to deploy troops into the two regions to "keep the peace" in a decree issued shortly after he announced recognition for Russia-backed separatists there, drawing U.S. and European condemnation and vows of new sanctions....