It's an interesting theory, but it's dependent on the idea that Putin would allow himself to be a puppet in HRC's/Cabal's game. That seems highly unlikely to me based on what we know of him.
That being said, it's not impossible that he could have been planning to play along simply out of the desire to expand Russia's borders and influence. Putin is after all, a nationalist.
It's an interesting theory, but it's dependent on the idea that Putin would allow himself to be a puppet in HRC's/Cabal's game. That seems highly unlikely to me based on what we know of him.
That being said, it's not impossible that he could have been planning to play along simply out of the desire to expand Russia's borders and influence. Putin is after all, a nationalist.
Still seems difficult to believe.