Putin plays an excellent game of poker. He is projecting the persona of an unpredictable madman, which is exactly what he wants the west to believe. If the west thought he was cold and calculating, they might have some chance of influencing events. I mean, surely a man who professes to love Mother Russia so much wouldn't want to see it turned to ash? But a lunatic might not care, and be willing to take that chance. Who knows? Certainly not Biden or Johnson.
I believe his main aim in taking Ukraine is to kill any possibility of it joining NATO and, I have admit, I can see his point of view. We have caused this paranoia by ever expanding our sphere of influence and, when we are shown the hawkish, bitter old Russian generals baying for blood, we have to remember that paranoia exists in the west too.
So, a game of economic warfare for now (except for poor Ukraine). A lot of name calling but, hopefully, no fatal errors on either side.
There's going to be a run on popcorn.