Why on Earth do they keep saying Russia can turn around and stop?

I saw a former minister of defense use this talking point in a debate on national television a while back, and I felt like I was about to have a stroke.

Like yeah, you're technically correct that the Russians could do that, but the actual chance of it happening is basically zero, so why are you bringing it up? You know this! What the hell kind of argument is this even supposed to be?

Ukraine maintained every part of the Minsk agreement reasonable to keep while Russia was in blatant violation of the agreement. Russia agreed to a withdraw of military forces from Ukraine (including the Dombass region) and refused to do so after signing the agreement. This constrained what Ukraine could reasonably do under the circumstances. To Russia, the agreements were a hiatus in a bigger fight.

The LPR and DPR are not recognized as legitimate entities under the Minsk Agreements. They were added without consent by Ukraine after Ukraine had already signed the agreement.

Russia, what they gain is security

Yes, now bombs fall on Russian cities, power plants go dark, and refineries are on fire.

if this is for “vainglory,” why limit it to the Donbass region

Russia has already expanded their territorial claims beyond the Dombass.

Russia has proven capable of fighting an attrition war that Ukraine cannot

Neither side is doing well. If Russia was capable, they'd be gaining more than a few meters every day.

Russian population benefiting massively from strengthened ties with China

Russian demographics are in the toilet and friendship with China isn't going to help.

Russia has been strengthened economically

A wartime economy produces encouraging economic figures but cannot be sustained and, when the war produces this kind of strain, the post-war economy is economic collapse. The war has to end someday and it will be ugly for the Russian people when that happens.

Finland & Sweden were not controversial for admission and even these took much effort. Hungary has made clear they would never support Ukraine inside NATO. But even if their politics changed to allow it, the Turkish would never allow it, no matter which political party runs Turkey.

But let's say that Ukraine did join NATO. So what? NATO is a defense treaty and a standards organization. Being a member of NATO just makes you a little harder to invade, it is not a threat to non-NATO neighbors. If Russia did not have an "invade your neighbor" mindset, there would be zero problem with all her neighbors being NATO members. That Russia has a problem with the idea of Ukraine inside NATO is an indication that Russia does not respect borders or national sovereignty of her neighbors. That she opposes it is the reason it is reasonably desired.