Putin really isn’t effectively strategic or smart. He is simply a smart bully. He knows where to pick his fights.
He won’t sneeze on a NATO country.
His plan is simple. 1. Control the Naval Yards via Crimea. Establish a logistical land bridge to Crimea via E.Ukraine.
He had the option to negotiate this access, but couldn’t resist a weak kid on the block.
He had access and was content, until the EUrocrats foolishly moved to remove it. Stupid people do stupid things. Putin may be a thug, but he didn't start this mess.
On the plus side, the Soros drones on this forum are outing themselves trying to minimize his role.