I think Vlad is largely killing time for our election to happen. That will determine what he does. If Kevin wins then Vlad will have an ally and, if not, then he will nuke Keiv (IDC how it's spelled). Ukraine doesn't have nukes so can't win (if that word has any meaning). I think history, if humans are able to have one, will say that this was the beginning of WWIII so get out those joints and chill. We're all going down.
And in 1967 the media confidently declared we'd won the Vietnam War. Nothing has changed.
The Russian media is confidently declaring they've won the war in Ukraine!. Nothing have changed. Just the actors.