Were I him, I’d nuke both of our coasts. I’d leave the US Midwest intact. I would seek to take us out somehow. We won’t respond to the attack. That much is clear.
That's what the Japs thought. Putin knows that the US is the only country that has demonstrated a willingness to actually use nukes. We have and we will.
I have no use for him, but I don't think that Putin's that dumb.