If we want to rule out lethal aid, then what options are available? Do we accept the idea that the Ukrainian State is essentially failing? If so, how do we in the West confront this?

That depends on whether one views a(nother) failed state on the Russian border as an acceptable, or even desirable, outcome.

If one does not view creating failed states in Russia's sphere of interest (and I'm not counting out the possibility that the US has precisely that motive), then the only solution is to give Russia carte blanche to massive troop deployments (and the accompanying atrocities that always and everywhere follow massive troop deployments). Ukraine is incapable of maintaining effective and credible state power, and Russia will never - to the point of calling down atomic fire from the skies - accept that any other power takes it upon itself to police Ukraine.

So, Russian "peacekeepers" or no peacekeepers whatever.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.