Morally indefensible?
Of two, or more, alternatives the least bad may be morally unpalatable but defensible none the less. The alternative is unconditional surrender, martial law, and imposition of control by military powers before eventually handing over to civilian authorities.
It worked in the 40s and 50s, it did not work in Iraq as the Allies did not have the wherewithal or appetite and allowed themselves to be distracted by Afghanistan.
The nearest to that solution now would appear to be Russia except they don't seem to have any desire for boots on ground either.