It is clear Vlad has been planning since the beginning for NATO intervention or escalation. He would be a fool to trust the collective West. Deploying only 15 percent of his military for the SMO was prudent, increasing his military to counter the possibility of Nato escalation is wise.
yes he would. Both Angela Merkel and then-French President François Hollande now admit the Minsk agreement was a ruse, to give Ukraine time to weaponize.
Had he not invaded Ukraine in the first place he wouldn’t have to concern himself about what NATO would or would not do. He set the ball rolling (A), so should not be surprised if it rolls back to him (B). B is a consequence of A. Remove A, and there is no B.