The answer to “What Putin had to do next?” is just a “retreat”. He has been defeated, and he knows it. He’s not the kind of people who know how to deal with being unpopular. If he begins to spend much money to prop up the election next year, Russia is not stupid and they can smell the rotting fish no matter how much perfume You spray on it. Sorry to Putin, but you can put your shirt back, down Your high horse and get over use of the Soviet Union. Russia and the world has grown tired of You and Your cronies.