Did Putin think we couldn't handle Ukraine?
He knew we could, and handle it peacefully and quietly like everything else.
Putin saw an opportunity to paint Russia and himself in a positive light, and took it. But he is quickly finding out how difficult it is to fight the fake news narrative. Putin can do the right thing and secure the region of Ukraine, but it will not be easy and he should be very cautious of placing blame on any one country.
After Ukraine, Putin should stop there and consider his actions as a success - but will he?
If Putin is as smart as Trump says he is, he will not venture ahead of the plan again.
The ball is in Putin's court now.