Charles Maines

This is a complete reversal by the U.S., not just from the politics of the Biden administration, which, after all, spent the past three years trying to isolate Putin, but even from the first days of the Trump administration. Trump threatened massive new sanctions on Putin to force him to the negotiating table.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

He also ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, two key demands Putin has made repeatedly for a negotiated settlement. Meanwhile, it didn't help Zelensky to also hear Trump suggest Zelensky might not be around politically when and if elections are held in Ukraine. It just gave the feeling that Trump thinks Zelensky, not Putin, is the one who's the obstacle to peace here.

He also ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, two key demands Putin has made repeatedly for a negotiated settlement. Meanwhile, it didn't help Zelensky to also hear Trump suggest Zelensky might not be around politically when and if elections are held in Ukraine. It just gave the feeling that Trump thinks Zelensky, not Putin, is the one who's the obstacle to peace here.

He also ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, two key demands Putin has made repeatedly for a negotiated settlement. Meanwhile, it didn't help Zelensky to also hear Trump suggest Zelensky might not be around politically when and if elections are held in Ukraine. It just gave the feeling that Trump thinks Zelensky, not Putin, is the one who's the obstacle to peace here.

Yeah. In exchange for Fogel, the U.S. is releasing Alexander Vinnick. He's a Russian cryptocurrency trader who'd been convicted of money laundering charges in the U.S. You know, clearly this is good news for the Fogel family. It's also clearly a diplomatic sweetener. You know, both sides have made clear this was a trust building gesture as the U.S. and Russia pursue a large deal over Ukraine.

Yeah. In exchange for Fogel, the U.S. is releasing Alexander Vinnick. He's a Russian cryptocurrency trader who'd been convicted of money laundering charges in the U.S. You know, clearly this is good news for the Fogel family. It's also clearly a diplomatic sweetener. You know, both sides have made clear this was a trust building gesture as the U.S. and Russia pursue a large deal over Ukraine.

Yeah. In exchange for Fogel, the U.S. is releasing Alexander Vinnick. He's a Russian cryptocurrency trader who'd been convicted of money laundering charges in the U.S. You know, clearly this is good news for the Fogel family. It's also clearly a diplomatic sweetener. You know, both sides have made clear this was a trust building gesture as the U.S. and Russia pursue a large deal over Ukraine.

But there's plenty that could still go wrong. I mean, particularly, I think, around the optics of seeming weak in negotiations between whether it's Trump appearing to sideline Ukraine and reward Russian aggression, or for that matter, Putin allowing Trump and the U.S. to play sheriff and impose an end to the conflict. You know, that could be a hard sell for either side to bring us a win.

But there's plenty that could still go wrong. I mean, particularly, I think, around the optics of seeming weak in negotiations between whether it's Trump appearing to sideline Ukraine and reward Russian aggression, or for that matter, Putin allowing Trump and the U.S. to play sheriff and impose an end to the conflict. You know, that could be a hard sell for either side to bring us a win.

But there's plenty that could still go wrong. I mean, particularly, I think, around the optics of seeming weak in negotiations between whether it's Trump appearing to sideline Ukraine and reward Russian aggression, or for that matter, Putin allowing Trump and the U.S. to play sheriff and impose an end to the conflict. You know, that could be a hard sell for either side to bring us a win.

Thanks, Michelle.

Thanks, Michelle.

Thanks, Michelle.

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