I’ve Negotiated With Russia. Trump Is Doing It Wrong.
Americans must stand up and say no to Trump’s embrace of autocrat Vladimir Putin.
While campaigning for president, candidate Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day. Since taking office, however, it has become obvious that the president’s focus is not on peacemaking, but rather on building his relationship with and making deals to suit Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
I served as U.S. ambassador to Moscow a decade ago and lived there for years before, so I know from firsthand experience that Putin cannot be trusted. He is a cynical strongman whose priorities and policies are antithetical to American values and interests. And no matter how much U.S.-Russian relations might be repaired or restarted, there is no universe in which Putin is a U.S. ally or trustworthy partner.
Read the whole piece for free here (no paywall; email registration only). I’ve Negotiated With Russia. Trump Is Doing It All Wrong.
He's doing it wrong only if his aim isn't to advance Russian interests. I suspect that, from his traitorous perspective, he is doing it exactly right.
Ask yourself: if Trump were a Russian agent, what more could he do to damage the US and benefit Putin? At some point we must apply Occam's razor. The simplest answer is usually the correct one.
Things have already changed since you wrote this, and the extortion campaign just got much worse. What now? News reports now say Zelenskyy will sign the minerals deal. We all know that strongmen like Putin and Trump just get worse when people capitulate. How can this possibly be good if Z gets no security deal and/or return of weapons flow? Would love to hear your thoughts (here, Twitter, wherever). Thanks.