For Putin to achieve the Russian objectives in the Ukraine, it does not require a full scale, very bloody, blitzkrieg type invasion. The Russian objective is to reincorporate Russified/Orthodox areas of the eastern Ukraine. Putin does not wish to incur or induce many casualties or cause significant property damage. He would like to take those areas the way he took Crimea. Only a fool would rush in tanks over frozen ground into the teeth of a defense manned by committed soldiers armed with modern anti tank missiles and drones. More likely he will create civil disturbances, attack with well trained special forces behind the lines, establish air superiority, use air cavalry type units to open safe corridors and then send in the armor. Suspect it will be over very quickly. There won’t even be a pause in the gas deliveries to Germany.
Nope. Russia’s objective is to keep Ukraine in economic turmoil and tied up in a disputed situation in Donbas. Russia could have annexed Donbas years ago if they wanted to. They have not because they don’t want it.
see here, if you haven’t already, for possible Russian objectives :
Why Russia wants to restore the Soviet borders (maps and explanations)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwzliJF0-SI
The Russian Empire - Summary on a map
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjDjnhOzqIU
Funny how the smartest people in the room are constantly out-thought and out-maneuvered by men like Putin.
Putin's only objective is to keep NATO from continuing to advance toward its borders and to prevent the sale of offensive weapons that could reach Russia from his borders.
It's perfectly reasonable request considering we promised he Russians no eastward expansion of NATO in the early 90s.