Don’t think Gazprom, not Putin, shut off gas deliveries. They just insist on payment up front. As would you if you were not being paid.
The gas deal with China was also a GAZPROM negotiation, not Putin. Pipeline gas is very cheap so any price above cost is chaching. I see Kiev went hat in hand to GAZPROM just yesterday asking to re-open talks. They know winter approaches.
The gas deal with China was also a GAZPROM negotiation, not Putin.You are very ill informed if you really believe that after 20 years GAZPROM negotiated the deal with China.
Russia's Putin seeks gas deal on state visit to China
There is a motto that Real Red-Blooded Freedom Loving Americans know well, that maybe on a slight chance you heard: Freedom is not free.
Ukraine does have challenges. They are working to reduce energy consumption by 30% and bring in 20% by reverse flow from Slovakia, as well as other ideas. Any short term hardship is preferable to perpetually groveling to Russia - which is run more like a cut-throat mafia than a modern civilized country.