@georgetakei he is dumb as shit who wants validation and kremlin successfully exploits that. However I feel story is much simpler than that. It was during that time kremlin was trying to paint that picture that any additional help to Ukraine will be seen as escalation. After delivery of tanks and F16 anyone will half a cell recognise it as very rough but very effective bluff against stupid. But I do not think he was alone in such thinking.
Overall though he cannot have such power. No man can.