RE:RE:Biden is imposing sanctions now, any thoughtsPutin is trying to get something. Its unclear what that is.
This is a chess game, and Putin is in control of the board.
I strongly doubt that he wants a military conflict with anyone who can fight back.
Declaring the breakaway states independant, and then signing deals for military bases in those states is a nice chess move.
Assisting those states with their security is another nice chess move.
Is that what Putin wanted all along? Don't know.
If I had to guess, I'd say no. Russia has completed a mulitibillion dollar gas pipeline to Germany, which the Germans are refusing to permit for technical paperwork reasons. One possibility is Putin will agree to withdraw his peace keepers from the breakaway republics if the German's complete the pipeline paperwork.
As for sanctions, pretty well nothing right now - I suspect those break away republics have little or no economic connection to the West.