Putin's calculation. Three reasons why Russia attacked Ukraine this year
Last year, they came to understand that the plan and did not work. It was simple - to hold an election in the ORDLO and push us this "Gaza" together with "People's Militia" and army corps with extended subject rights, and it is easy to provoke civil conflict. This practically guaranteed the Kremlin non -interference (remember Syria, the war in which the world ignored, despite one and a half million victims).
Since 2019, the authorities of Ukraine have fully played these intentions, but social protests were so strong that they could not be implemented. During this time, the Muscovites realized that the Zelensky guaranteed Yermak-Zaptiket formula Steinmeier was not able to provide and moved to a less attractive plan B-an unprovoked military invasion.
At this point, the construction of the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline was completed, and therefore Putin could easily offer his European clients alternative to Ukrainian fuel supply. Germany has closed almost all thermal (coal) power plants and half atomic. The rest were prepared for closing in the near future. That is, the dependence of the European leader (and with him all Europe) has become critical. Biden has demonstrated his readiness for serious compromises for friendly relations with Germany.