Putin could be a winner in European parliamentary vote if far right gains ground

[pampango]

4. They are "ideological soul mates" who just disagree on Ukraine's sovereignty and borders.

Indeed, in many respects, Putin is an ideological soul mate. He rails against Western decadence and liberalism and speaks in favor of an orthodox and conservative nationalism that rejects gay rights and commands adherence to traditional values.

Once Ukraine's borders are redrawn/accepted and the crisis atmosphere subsides, I suspect that Ukraine's far-right will join those in the rest of Europe and realize that Putin is a "soul mate" in terms of values and ideology.

Why wouldn't they? They know that if Ukraine ever becomes a member of the EU, the whole anti-liberalism and "an orthodox and conservative nationalism that rejects gay rights and commands adherence to traditional values" will be out the window. Russia is a much better long term friend if you believe in such values.

If Russia were snipping off a province in France, I imagine the French National Front would hate Putin. But the "snipping" is in Ukraine not France so the FNF backs Putin. The far-right, being ultra-nationalistic, has a difficult time with cross-border solidarity (that concept is a part of the EU which they hate ).