Nothing is further from the truth though, Putin, the chess master, is simply effecting a false retreat as an observatory measure.
Just as the Americans and NATO drew Putin out of the shadows so they could observe his new military hardware, a veritable treasure trove of information has been gathered in a few months, Putin will now sit back and wait for the next move by NATO.
The Russians will still keep a few bases on the ground, strategically placed, and on standby.
This war, will be long, a game of cat and mouse, and the winner will have to be patient.