It reeks of desperation from the imperial admin to feel like they have some level of control over the situation. It strikes me that they really are organizationally unequipped to take an overt geopolitical L at this point; I think the pathetic showing of negotiation for peace on their part shows that. They are so used to everyone folding to them. They are used to diplomacy being another tool to solidify people folding to them, in polite meeting rooms. They refuse to grapple with the idea of losing any power.