You Had Me at Privet

In the NYT (Gift Article), M. Gessen does a great job of clearly explaining why sanctions, whether delivered by Biden or Trump, haven’t deterred Putin (When sanctions have an effect, it is usually to immiserate ordinary people. The elites remain wealthy, and the gap between the rich and the poor only grows. Rather than foment resentment against the regime and the elites, this tends to rally society against the country that imposed the sanctions.), and why the Russian leader may have won the Alaskan summit before it even starts. Trump Is Giving Putin a Most Wonderful Gift. “Trump seems to be unaware that, by meeting with Putin, he is giving Putin exactly what the Russian leader wants — a demonstration of his power. Trump is giving Putin additional gifts by agreeing to meet with him without Zelensky and by sidelining the European Union. Trump is affirming for all of Russia to see what Putin has claimed all along: that the conflict is really between Russia and the United States. The moment Putin walks into the negotiating room, he has gotten everything he wants — plus an opportunity to make a quip about Alaska as historically Russian land (consider this a prediction). If the meeting does not produce an agreement, Putin loses nothing. Trump, on the other hand, would lose face if he walked out empty-handed. He may be motivated to accept something, anything.”

+ European leaders talked with Trump and hope everyone is on the same page ahead of the summit. Trump told them he will not negotiate Ukrainian territory with Putin. Here’s the latest from CNN.