i am not sure why people here associate Putin with black and white decisions. his decision are more subtle. he couched people to make them mainstream to be efffective. even if Le Pen lose. the consensus behind will be too strong.If he backs down, then Russia is doomed and all of Putin's credibility will be lost to his domestic audience. But I'm guessing what might
happen is them kicking the can down the road, if they won't make good on their threat, to try to save face.
similar is his decision about Kiev withdrawl at this point. he put challenge to EU to baby sit Ukraine.
Ukraine Needs $7 Billion Per Month, Zelenskiy Tells EU (11:15 a.m.)
Ukraine needs $7 billion per month in immediate financing help to cover social payments and salaries, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen when she visited Kyiv last week, according to people familiar with the matter.