Yes, the Usurper and chief handlers got out maneuvered. Putin knew they were trying to use him as a distraction, all the ended up doing was giving Putin the chance to set the stage for an annexation much like Sudeten crisis Hitler capitalized on.
Some her even posted Putin already had a foot in the door in those provinces and was using this crises to secure a stronger footing.
Now here we are.
Putin won’t annex Donbas. It’s much more useful to him to have it inside Ukraine and where stage manage events at his leisure.
Chess vs tiddly winks players trying to match wits.