If Trump goes forward and this leads to Russian military deaths or Russia getting mad, does Putin and his people start leaking stuff on Trump in retaliation.
No I assume they offer to increase hostilities (with the not so veiled threat of nuclear war) unless America removes its sanctions. I call it the "Hey Americs you broke our people! You either pay for that or we have a problem". Not subtle but a very good way to get the Sanctions off that would be "hard" for a Trump replacement to just wipe away since its basically us paying them to not strike (sort of what NK has going on)
Think of it like this. I wouldn't be surprised if this was always the "Plan B" way for Putin and Trump to get those Sanctions off in case the public didn't buy the into "let's be friends with Russia" Narrative they tried to run early. What I am surprised at is the speed of this happening in Trumps presidency. This is not something you do a few months into a presidency unless you were desperate. This makes me think they are moving so fast is they need to get this done before charges start to drop and Trump becomes completely a lame duck.
As for Trump he is DESPERATE to change the news. Nunes stepping down today to face Ethic charges is major. More than anything it sent a message to republicans not to put there neck out there to much. The nuclear option for Gorsuch also indicates that the dems are not fukking with Trump at all. I love it because far too often the Dems play Charlie Brown to the Republicans Lucy with the football and take the Bait they offer to fukk themselves. By protesting this, it means that very likely Trumps going to have to get his own bozo party to approve shyt..... good luck with that. Dems can be a full on protest party and that is what their constituents want.