TLDR: There was a recent shakeup of the Russian top brass and an economist was put in a top job. He thinks the economist has told Putin that this can not be sustained given Russia’s capability and Western promised support. Putin might actually be listening and why he wants to settle on current control.
Also having a former Soviet state become an actual functioning democracy without the massive Grift would show Russians there is a path to life without cleptocrats.
The tries between the countries run pretty deep so there would be no hiding it.