I believe Russia's intention with Ukraine (based on what actually happened) was to create a land bridge to Crimea to ensure they always had unrestricted access to Sevastopol and their only warm water port.  Ukraine used to always be friendly with Russia and Russia has rented that area for a long time, consistently occupied that port for hundreds of years.  But once Ukraine was being courted by the EU and NATO, that threatened Russia's access to that port.

I think all the claims about protecting people in the Donbass, de-Nazification, etc, was just a sales pitch to the public.  Russia achieved it's aims and I think Ukraine and Russia will settle and put a border along the current battle lines with some negotiated small regional variations.

All those people claiming Putin was Hitler and was going to march across Europe if he isn't stopped... they weren't very accurate, were they?

All the people who said from way back that Ukraine should settle and not continue fighting... if only Zelenskyy had listened to us a lot more people would be alive right now.