Science has fulfilled her function when she has ascertained and enunciated truth.
Putin has a lot at stake here and restoring the relationship with the United States and there are already signs as Sandy mentioned that he's moving in the right direction to begin to ascertain that their trade with Iran is not used for the production of nuclear weapons.
Whenever a youth is ascertained to possess talents meriting an education which his parents cannot afford he should be carried forward at the public expense.
I can honestly say that I was never affected by the question of the success of an undertaking. If I felt it was the right thing to do I was for it regardless of the possible outcome.