He already said exactly this in his Feb 24, 2022 video which was released as invasion was unfolding.
Yes. It had been very little covered in western media. The average American certainly has never heard it
It was covered everywhere. All his public addresses are dissected and debated ad nosium in most media. The only reason why people don't know it is short form content and "what about muh nato bases" propaganda misdirection pushed by algos and elmos.
Right. Americans beyond the academia/DC policy/journo bubble didn't know/didn't care about it, given their notorious ADHD.