Charles Maines

Morning, Michelle.

Morning, Michelle.

You know, this began with Trump expressing anger over Russia's intense bombing of cities across Ukraine over the weekend. Trump initially said Putin had gone absolutely crazy and threatened potential sanctions. That was on Sunday. Two days later, Trump reminded Moscow that if it hadn't been for him, quote, really bad things would have already happened to Russia.

You know, this began with Trump expressing anger over Russia's intense bombing of cities across Ukraine over the weekend. Trump initially said Putin had gone absolutely crazy and threatened potential sanctions. That was on Sunday. Two days later, Trump reminded Moscow that if it hadn't been for him, quote, really bad things would have already happened to Russia.

You know, this began with Trump expressing anger over Russia's intense bombing of cities across Ukraine over the weekend. Trump initially said Putin had gone absolutely crazy and threatened potential sanctions. That was on Sunday. Two days later, Trump reminded Moscow that if it hadn't been for him, quote, really bad things would have already happened to Russia.

He warned Putin he was playing with fire. And then yesterday, Trump said he was disappointed that Russia had continued attacks while negotiations were ongoing. Yet on this issue of hitting Russia with new sanctions or some other response, Trump made clear he's not there yet.

He warned Putin he was playing with fire. And then yesterday, Trump said he was disappointed that Russia had continued attacks while negotiations were ongoing. Yet on this issue of hitting Russia with new sanctions or some other response, Trump made clear he's not there yet.

He warned Putin he was playing with fire. And then yesterday, Trump said he was disappointed that Russia had continued attacks while negotiations were ongoing. Yet on this issue of hitting Russia with new sanctions or some other response, Trump made clear he's not there yet.

Well, some Kremlin officials have called Trump misinformed, arguing Trump wasn't aware of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia over the week. More, they also point to a deal Ukraine signed yesterday with Germany to produce long-range weapons capable of striking inside Russia in the future. But overall, the Kremlin's strategy appears to be not antagonizing Trump. President Putin has said nothing.

Well, some Kremlin officials have called Trump misinformed, arguing Trump wasn't aware of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia over the week. More, they also point to a deal Ukraine signed yesterday with Germany to produce long-range weapons capable of striking inside Russia in the future. But overall, the Kremlin's strategy appears to be not antagonizing Trump. President Putin has said nothing.

Well, some Kremlin officials have called Trump misinformed, arguing Trump wasn't aware of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia over the week. More, they also point to a deal Ukraine signed yesterday with Germany to produce long-range weapons capable of striking inside Russia in the future. But overall, the Kremlin's strategy appears to be not antagonizing Trump. President Putin has said nothing.

Meanwhile, his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly complimented Trump's effort to end the conflict, while reminding these are complex negotiations full of nuances. Now, critics will say, of course, that it's just more foot-dragging by Moscow as fighting continues.

Meanwhile, his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly complimented Trump's effort to end the conflict, while reminding these are complex negotiations full of nuances. Now, critics will say, of course, that it's just more foot-dragging by Moscow as fighting continues.

Meanwhile, his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has repeatedly complimented Trump's effort to end the conflict, while reminding these are complex negotiations full of nuances. Now, critics will say, of course, that it's just more foot-dragging by Moscow as fighting continues.

And yet Russia's foreign minister announced last night he was now ready to pick up talks where they left off, calling for a meeting with Ukraine and Istanbul, Turkey next Monday, when each side can present documents outlining their vision for an eventual peace deal.

And yet Russia's foreign minister announced last night he was now ready to pick up talks where they left off, calling for a meeting with Ukraine and Istanbul, Turkey next Monday, when each side can present documents outlining their vision for an eventual peace deal.

And yet Russia's foreign minister announced last night he was now ready to pick up talks where they left off, calling for a meeting with Ukraine and Istanbul, Turkey next Monday, when each side can present documents outlining their vision for an eventual peace deal.

Well, the presumption is they will, because Kiev needs to show Trump that Ukraine's not the obstacle to peace here. Certainly that was the case in the first round of talks in Istanbul, negotiations that were proposed by Putin amid earlier sanctions threatened by Trump, although Putin then undermined those very talks by sending a relatively low-level delegation.

Well, the presumption is they will, because Kiev needs to show Trump that Ukraine's not the obstacle to peace here. Certainly that was the case in the first round of talks in Istanbul, negotiations that were proposed by Putin amid earlier sanctions threatened by Trump, although Putin then undermined those very talks by sending a relatively low-level delegation.

Well, the presumption is they will, because Kiev needs to show Trump that Ukraine's not the obstacle to peace here. Certainly that was the case in the first round of talks in Istanbul, negotiations that were proposed by Putin amid earlier sanctions threatened by Trump, although Putin then undermined those very talks by sending a relatively low-level delegation.