The goal Putin has been repeating like a broken record for years is to keep NATO off Russia's doorstep. He has given enough warnings, moved troops around to scare people and now invaded.

How would taking Kiev achieve this ? Who knows. The battles of Stalingrad, Warsaw, Chechnya and Mosul show Kiev will take months to fall. The longer the war goes, the worse for Putin, and indirectly us.

The war made Finland think about joining NATO. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia applied to EU. Not sure if Putin accounted for this. Or if there was a plan, other than bomb Ukraine till it surrenders.

Most sane people would be happy if Putin got what he wanted - NATO banning Ukraine, and the war ended. That's waaaaaay better than driving him into a corner.