It makes perfect sense as a diversion, and plenty of military experts explained how this diversion pinned large parts of Ukrainian army in the west while Russia secured positions in the east.
The fact that you get your ideas about the war from these sorts of youtube channels as opposed to people with actual military experience explains why you believe in nonsensical things.
Of course Russia’s aims were to get Ukraine to accept their terms in Istanbul, namely that they get to keep what they’ve stolen. Fundamentally the same offer in the headline here.
The offer in Istanbul was completely different. It required Ukraine to implement Minsk agreements which both Ukraine and the west claimed to support, and to stay neutral. Now, Ukraine is losing large parts of its territory, and the deal will only get worse. At least learn a bit about the subject you’re attempting to opine on.