Even if I agree with your take on Putin's choices, all you are saying is that the cheating was justified because he lied as well. You don't dispute the cheating happened. So I guess you agree that he has no good reason to agree to a ceasefire now.
On the topic of what his choices might have been three years ago, have a look at this:
TLDR - Putin had to choose between waiting for the US to improve their positions against Russia until _they_ are confident enough to attack in one way or another, or draw a red line and enforce it. He did the latter, with ample warnings, which were consistently ignored. If I was Russian that's what I would've hoped he would do.