I can think of no reason for Trump backing off from the now undeniable Russian attack on American democracy, other than that Trump owes Putin and his mates hundreds of millions and/or Putin does have the tapes of Trump being pissed on by Russian prostitutes, or maybe something worse like paedophilia, for example.The KGB would have no qualms about using 14 yr olds as 'honey traps', to use a ghastly term.
It has to be very heavy-duty, career ending stuff for him to be so acquiescent in his dealing with Putin.
I mean he's a guy who has a proven pathological hatred and fear of not winning, of not being 'top dog'.
So something is very, very wrong.