Putin has 80% support in Russia
What does that have to do with Ukraine? Putin is figuring out now that E. Ukraine is not Russia. He isn’t superman and his plan in falling apart.
There is no genuine popular uprising in E. Ukraine. Had their been the weak Kiev Junta would have been easily ejected. They don’t even have motor oil or food for their army. This should be a simple task to remove the central authorities. That it hasn’t happened shows that what we a seeing is an astroturfed uprising performed by Russian agents.
That doesn’t really matter. Support at home keeps him in power. He has the Crimea. Everything beyond that is gravy