I don't think his goal is to put pain on the European economy - all of this effort and risk just for that? He could have accomplished the same thing just by cutting off gas and oil to Europe without having to go to war. I think his goals are nationalistic in character - reassert Russian hegemony by taking Ukraine and cementing himself as one of the greatest Russian "Tzars" who restored glory. It's not working out that way and now he is stuck. He isn't going to give up easily, he's got too much at stake now. So I do think he will continue and you're right on that front. But I also think by now he wants a way out of this mess.
The history books are going to look at Zalensky very kindly. Unfortunately some of those books will be banned by the assholes in this country.
Russia can't sustain the loses to equipment or manpower. Money is no good if they can't use it. No one is selling Russia military equipment and throwing untrained soldier into this war will just get them slaughtered.
What is most ironic about the celebration of "Victory Day" by the Russians is that much of their stated goals could've been met or fought for without invasion. Coming into the war Russia had leverages of the energy sector but also Ukraine was very dependent on Russian imports. NATO was still suffering from divisions from the last US administration and the countries like Poland weren't getting along with other European countries. Instead of focusing on those Putin launched a ham handed invasion that has greatly weakened the Russian military but put Russia into a far weaker geo political position than it was three months ago. While the US is talking about weakening Russia it appears that Russia is already doing that to themselves.
I think the USA is trying to point that out to Russia when they are saying it......like.....we want Russia weaker - and Russia has to know that is what is happening, at least the guys on the front lines do...maybe not Putin. DD
I'm sure putin thinks this was a beautiful battle plan, perfect and how people are talking about this being the most perfect plan they have ever seen. Some are even saying he deserves the Nobel War Prize