Russia has been very restrained during the past several decades of U.S. meddling. The hardliners in his cabinet are angry that he is not more forceful. Putin could end the Ukraine war in a few days if he wanted to. He is afraid of a retaliation by the U.S. that he would definitely have to answer, then an escalation to a nuclear war.
Putin said “why would we want a world without Russia?”
I agree as long as Putin is in it.