Putin only wants the Donbas region and he’s already got Crimea. If he wanted Kherson he’d be holding it.
That's why Putin annexed Kherson, because he didn't want it. Okay
Putin and Russia are not omnipotent.
If they were, they would own all of Ukraine by now.
In war, the other side gets a vote.
Putin and Russia never expected the Ukrainians to "vote" with arms, as vigorously and well as they have.