[GoldenState_Rose]

Yes Ukraine proved too resistant so now he’s staked his bets on Middle East (albeit in different format) with Iran and Assad in Syria.

[Cronos]

I believe that Putin already has what he wanted in the Ukraine:

• A state that is not part of the EU or NATO
• A state in chaos and no threat to him
• No "shining example" of a non-mafia East Slavic state to inspire Russians
• Crimea and Sevastopol
• Potentially the Donbas region

He won in the Ukraine -- look at how Sakaashvili was exiled recently

With the Middle East, Putin's game is multi-fold:

• play to the public at home that Russia is a great power and can decide things with its power -- and this has proven TRUE. the Russians changed the entire scenario in the Syria region
• Ensure that one of his allies stays in power
• Show the rest of the world and to Russia's allies that "if you do good by Russia, Russia stands by you. in contrast don't trust the Amerikanie - they will dump you tomorrow" -- very effective
• Kill Sunnijihadis -- these are a threat to Russia as well with its large Sunni Tartar groups -- note that the Tatars are pro-Russia and actively despise Wahabbis. Ditto for the Russian hinterland in Central Asia -- Tajikistan et al all fight with Wahabbiism
• Play all sides:
  • russia is a friend of Assad
  • it allies with Iran
  • it supports the Kurds
  • It has a tacit agreement with the Turks
  • It is a friend of Israel - remember that the Russians moved their embassy to Jerusalem in April 2017, well before the USA. Putin and Netanyahu have a good relationship as well
  • And now even feelers to MBS in Riyadh

  Russia's ultimate goal remains what it has been since 1453 - conquering Constaninople -- remember that even avowedly anti-Christian Tukachewsky wanted to conquer Constantinople -- it is so ingrained in Russian psyche that it can't be removed