My guess would be that Kyiv is a barganing chip for the eastern part of the country that is the actual target of the invasion (Not being able to read minds, I'm

My guess would be that Kyiv is a barganing chip for the eastern part of the country that is the actual target of the invasion (Not being able to read minds, I'm on the "Putin wants the dombass mines and a buffer with NATO" team.) You don't eat your bargaining chips.