It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.
Just stand back and look at a map of Eastern Europe.
Draw out the route that Hitler used to attack Russia.
Then start with Moscow and draw the route in reverse, using the same strategy...
I will give you a hint that the Ukraine borders with Poland.
Then sit down in a quiet place and put yourself in a Russians shoes looking though the history glass, the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies and think as they think, and as Putin thinks.
The end game should not be too hard to figure out. And based on the history of the past coupled with the declining importance of the US and it's current geopolitical ambitions and it's ignorant populace and policy, as well as it's huge and growing debt burden, you can see why he thinks it's doable and can be done conventionally, without American intervention which is the only power that could defeat him.