Putin wants China to think he can defeat Ukraine. But his expensive military gambit is yet to yield results

Moscow's massive missile barrage on Kyiv this week was the fastest, most complex attack on the Ukrainian capital so far. The Kremlin claimed it had hit one of the United States' prestigious Patriot missile defense systems.

It was a bold claim, but as it turned out, not entirely without merit. The complex automated missile system had suffered minimal damage - possibly from falling debris -- but was not destroyed and remained functional, US officials told CNN.

Speculation that day nevertheless raised concerns that Kyiv's increasingly near-invincible missile shield, much of it gifted by NATO partners, might now have vulnerable holes Russia would exploit.

The following night, however, the skies over the capital were quiet. The all-too-familiar and unnerving sound of intercept rockets launching at the incoming deadly payloads didn't happen. President Xi's envoy, Li Hui, was spending the night there on a pre-planned, publicly announced visit. A missile that disturbed his peace or, worse, hit him could have changed the course of the war.

But Putin needed metaphorical blood on Volodymyr Zelensky's nose while Ukrainian officials met Li. He wants to persuade the one world leader who can tip the scales in his stalled fight with Ukraine that he can win, and that his offensive is worthy of military support.

Nothing would have spoken louder of Moscow's prestige than for its much vaunted - and expensive - hypersonic missile the Kinzhal to have won a duel with American Patriots.

Flying at up to 10 times the speed of sound, the six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles he fired that night cost a total of $60 million. The nine cruise missiles fired from his Black Sea fleet almost doubled the bill - and that's before adding in the cost of the Iskander and S400 missiles also part of that night's onslaught.