To Russia With Love

In a single day, the Trump administration announced Ukraine would not become a member of NATO and that any notion of a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is unrealistic. In other words, he gave Putin a lot of what he wants before negotiations even start. It was A Valentine for Vladimir. “They’re drinking vodka straight from the bottle in the Kremlin.” And the world order is on the rocks.

+ NYT (Gift Article): “For President Vladimir V. Putin, one phone call marked a turning point as great as any battle in his three-year war.” Putin Scores a Big Victory, and Not on the Battlefield.

+ US relations with Europe will never be the same after Trump’s call with Putin.