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„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kyiv was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kyiv a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

As the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million (out of 140) would demand a greater war.

„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin¹ Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kyiv was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kyiv a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

As the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million¹ (out of 140) would demand a greater war.

¹ The recent edit #3 to this answer has removed a crucial section explaining the logical fallacy of "Putin invaded" and also the origin of "125 out of 140 million" numbers. Leaving this as it is to avoid any disputes.

„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kyiv was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kyiv a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

A note. The article mistakenly uses the word "Putin" instead of "Russian people". Putin himself is a product of Russian citizens, 89% of which do support the war.

Ref.: Putin’s approval rating hits historic high at 89 percent — "Russia Today" TV propaganda channel.

So it is incorrect to say, "Putin invaded" or "Putin committed a terrorist strike" or "Putin is a war criminal".
If (when) Putin suddenly disappears, it would not change the attitude of the Russian population.

So the war criminals are 89% of Russian population. And, as the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million (out of 140) would demand a greater war.

„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kyiv was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kyiv a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

As the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million (out of 140) would demand a greater war.

„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kiev was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kiev was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kiev a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

A note. The article mistakenly uses the word "Putin" instead of "Russian people". Putin himself is a product of Russian citizens, 89% of which do support the war.

Ref.: Putin’s approval rating hits historic high at 89 percent — "Russia Today" TV propaganda channel.

So it is incorrect to say, "Putin invaded" or "Putin committed a terrorist strike" or "Putin is a war criminal".
If (when) Putin suddenly disappears, it would not change the attitude of the Russian population.

So the war criminals are 89% of Russian population. And, as the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million (out of 140) would demand a greater war.

„U.S. Told Ukraine to Stand Down as Putin Invaded.“

I heard this idea from many analysts in Ukraine, but it was kind of unproven opinions.
Till recently, when this article on Bloomberg appeared, explaining everything in details.

Sorry for a long quote, but it really answers the question completely. Markup is mine.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces took over Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in early 2014, the interim Ukrainian government was debating whether or not to fight back against the "little green men" Russia had deployed.
But the message from the Barack Obama administration was clear: avoid military confrontation with Moscow.

The White House's message to Kyiv was advice, not an order, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have recently told us, and was based on a variety of factors.

1. There was a lack of clarity about what Russia was really doing on the ground.
2. The Ukrainian military was in no shape to confront the Russian Spetsnaz (special operations) forces that were swarming on the Crimean peninsula.
3. Moreover, the Ukrainian government in Kyiv was only an interim administration until the country would vote in elections a few months later. Ukrainian officials told us that other European governments sent Kyiv a similar message.

1. But the main concern was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As U.S. officials told us recently, the White House feared that if the Ukrainian military fought in Crimea, it would give Putin justification to launch greater military intervention in Ukraine, using similar logic to what Moscow employed in 2008 when Putin invaded large parts of Georgia in response to a pre-emptive attack by the Tbilisi government. Russian forces occupy two Georgian provinces to this day.

There are more proofs and direct speech of U.S. officials within the article.

A note. The article mistakenly uses the word "Putin" instead of "Russian people". Putin himself is a product of Russian citizens, 89% of which do support the war.

Ref.: Putin’s approval rating hits historic high at 89 percent — "Russia Today" TV propaganda channel.

So it is incorrect to say, "Putin invaded" or "Putin committed a terrorist strike" or "Putin is a war criminal".
If (when) Putin suddenly disappears, it would not change the attitude of the Russian population.

So the war criminals are 89% of Russian population. And, as the article suggests, the U.S. official have feared that a horde of 125 million (out of 140) would demand a greater war.