Yeah, there were nonviolent rebellions against the Russian-Soviet empire but many of those who partook faced severe consequences thanks to pervasive secret police regimes.

On balance, if Ukraine had just accepted Russian domination (through lesser force ala Belarus), things there would be more peaceful. Less kinetic at least, those secret police forces would surely be directed against its people. Would former Iron Curtain countries that now belong to NATO would be in any danger following a Russian-instigated coup in Ukraine? I doubt it. Moldova would fall next, but that might be the end of it. And so Russia would have to settle for an expanded, but smaller empire compared to its former borders. Speculating further out into the future, a reconsolidated Russian empire would pose a greater threat, or competitor, to Europe.

Whether or not it's at the West's instigation, the Ukrainian military chose to defend the country indefinitely and most Ukrainian people have the will to fight. It is impossible to know whether or not continuing to arm them for their fight is a good idea. As long as a nuclear exchange is avoided, I believe it to be a good one. But I don't know if it won't eventually escalate to a nuclear exchange.