This is like a drunk ex bursting into your apartment, smashing furniture and demanding that you stop seeing that new boyfriend. Not a winning strategy by any means.
> This is like a drunk ex bursting into your apartment, smashing furniture and demanding that you stop seeing that new boyfriend.
...who you are not, in fact, seeing because they’ve said that, while they are interested, they won't get involved while you have so many unsettled issues with the ex.
It's why I disagree with various claims of Putin's "genius". I think these sort of stratagems are an instinctive part of the nature of narcissistic personalities.