If Putin were to be secretly relieved of

[frogmarch]

his presidential duties by no-war proponents, would they hide his disappearance from the citizenry, and the world, for as long as possible and have "him" announce he'd changed his mind and would now withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine and end the war?

Okay, probably not, but what would happen if his presidency abruptly ended?

[LiberalFighter]

1. I'm thinking it would be best they announced he was deposed.

It would send a message to the world that they want to do what is right.

[Drum]

2. A la The Princess Bride: "To the pain"

"'To the pain' means that the first thing you lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists, next your nose... The next thing you lose will be your left eye, followed by your right. [...] Your ears you keep, and I'll tell you why: so that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish; every babe that weeps at your approach; every woman who cries out, 'Dear God! What is that thing?' will echo in your perfect ears. That is what 'to the pain' means; it means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery, forever."

— Westley, The Princess Bride

[True Dough]

3. With the Putin regime's penchant for "deep fakes"

it could take quite some time before anyone could be sure that he's out of the picture.

[2naSalit]

10. Unless they...

Put him on display as has happened in that culture before.

[True Dough]

11. I would make a point

of tuning in for that! And my sympathy meter would be hovering at zero.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. By characterizing him as a murderous dictator we are giving those around him a signal and a path

It just might work. Peace would come quickly.

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. Putin cannot retreat. His all-powerful image would collapse. He depends on it.

Putin will NOT be negotiating for a cease-fire or an end to the war. He is a war criminal not to be trusted. He proved his lack of good faith many times over. Sanctions will never be lifted while Putin is in power. The west wants him out and won't give him a dime to improve his status both internationally and domestically. Of course, this is all my opinion.

[hlthe2b]

6. I think possibility all would keep quiet about as likely as not hearing about a 9.5 earthquake

Some things can simply not be hidden.

[speak easy]

7. Putin should be secretly relieved of his head.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. It would be announced

that he had died suddenly of a mysterious illness. That's the Russian way of dealing with dictators. And people who are nuisances to the government.

I'd be more interested in who would take over and how they would GTFO of Ukraine. They could hardly "Declare that they won and leave" as used to be suggested about Vietnam.

[2naSalit]

9. He'd probably be dead...

And they would know that announcing that he was no longer in power and that troops were withdrawing immediately, might help them come out of pariah state a little earlier, maybe.

[relayerbob]

12. They would instantly put all the blame of everything on him

To try to get some cash and trade going again.