I struggle to understand Putin's reasoning as well. My best guess is that he wants to leave a legacy of expanding Russia's geographic influence. I.e., it was

I struggle to understand Putin's reasoning as well. My best guess is that he wants to leave a legacy of expanding Russia's geographic influence. I.e., it was a gamble based on a successful invasion of Ukraine. My Hollywood-style conspiracy theory (which I very much doubt) is that Russia and China are secretly collaborating. The plan would be for Russia to draw NATO / U.S. forces into eastern Europe, leaving Taiwan under-defended. And then China would invade Taiwan.