He wants both. He wants the territory, either directly or via a puppet administration and, in service of that goal, he needs to control the population. Regardi

He wants both. He wants the territory, either directly or via a puppet administration and, in service of that goal, he needs to control the population. Regarding territory, he'll take what he can get. He's in Ukraine because no one stopped him after Georgia and Crimea. If he succeeds in Ukraine, he'll keep seeking more.