You know it IS something America would not recognize: they are trying to avoid innocent civilian casualties because long-term, that's bad for Russia who has to live next door to Ukraine for all eternity.
America has demonstrated since WW2 that anyone who's not American (and even many who are but are only the wrong side or have the wrong color - e.g. ) is 100% expendable - F- the Geneva Conventions or any other international agreement.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties_from_U.S._...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrahman_al-Awlaki
This has been true from Korea to Vietnam to any conflict in the Middle East or Latin America. Our doctrine is "kill everyone and let God or the Devil sort them out" so it's not surprising that this seems bizarre to us and/or our government.