re: #295 sattv4u2

In this, Putin is in a lose/ lose predicament

If the Ukranians vote a pro-Russian in to office, it will be perceived as Putin strong arming and/ or fixing the elections

If the Ukranians vote someone that is pro EU alignment, it will be perceived as Putin (and to a lesser extent, the Russian economy) being weak

I’d argue that in the event a pro-EU government were elected under conditions Putin set, it actually would weaken his position, as he’d be trying to argue that the Ukrainian people want a pro-Russia government in power when the people obviously do not.