You assume that Putin has the same information as we do. I would not be surprised at all to learn (in 20 years) that the plan was:

- Get Russia to support the Donbas with troops in the offensive built up (increased troops, increased shelling) by Ukraine in the early weeks of Feb. 202

- When Russia moves in, then Ukraine recognizes the Donbas and Crimea as no longer part of Ukraine

- NATO admits the rest of Ukraine, now territorilly intact.

Ergo: Russia wins the battle, but loses the war to keep Ukraine out of NATO.

I for one find it suspcious that we in the general public "know" how NATO told Zelenskyy that they would never be part of NATO just AFTER the invasion started. Too clever by half.