Peter Baker

And the Democrats are the ones who are left to defend Ukraine and call for a more skeptical view of Russia and to cast Russia as the enemy.

And the Democrats are the ones who are left to defend Ukraine and call for a more skeptical view of Russia and to cast Russia as the enemy.

Yeah, I mean, look, it is certainly the case that a lot of people believe the United States needs to focus its priorities either at home or perhaps against China because that's the bigger threat. And therefore, we have to recalibrate our relationship with Europe, our commitments in Europe, our hostility toward Russia.

Yeah, I mean, look, it is certainly the case that a lot of people believe the United States needs to focus its priorities either at home or perhaps against China because that's the bigger threat. And therefore, we have to recalibrate our relationship with Europe, our commitments in Europe, our hostility toward Russia.

And the strategic thought that you hear from some people behind what happened on Friday is it's time for us to cut bait and be friendlier with Russia because we need them against China. I don't know how much that's part of Trump's own thinking, but certainly some people around him give voice to that analysis.

And the strategic thought that you hear from some people behind what happened on Friday is it's time for us to cut bait and be friendlier with Russia because we need them against China. I don't know how much that's part of Trump's own thinking, but certainly some people around him give voice to that analysis.

Even so, of course, to see the very personal and visceral way that Trump was willing to cut loose an ally in furtherance of this strategy was pretty striking. Even if that's what you wanted to do, doing it in this way, I think, was pretty shocking for a lot of people.

Even so, of course, to see the very personal and visceral way that Trump was willing to cut loose an ally in furtherance of this strategy was pretty striking. Even if that's what you wanted to do, doing it in this way, I think, was pretty shocking for a lot of people.

No question that Trump respects strength and power, and he sees the world as a place where big men and big powers like the United States and Putin's Russia divide up their spheres of influence very much like a 19th century or mid-20th century view of things, while the democracies will simply have to eat it if they have to.

No question that Trump respects strength and power, and he sees the world as a place where big men and big powers like the United States and Putin's Russia divide up their spheres of influence very much like a 19th century or mid-20th century view of things, while the democracies will simply have to eat it if they have to.

In other words, what matters more is who is powerful, not who has the same kind of governmental system And that leaves the question then, does Ukraine become in effect roadkill on the way to this, you know, real politic goal? And what happens to the U.S. relationship with other democracies in Asia and Europe?

In other words, what matters more is who is powerful, not who has the same kind of governmental system And that leaves the question then, does Ukraine become in effect roadkill on the way to this, you know, real politic goal? And what happens to the U.S. relationship with other democracies in Asia and Europe?

And do we embolden authoritarian governments like Putin by rewarding them for their aggression?

And do we embolden authoritarian governments like Putin by rewarding them for their aggression?

Yeah, absolutely. So as soon as Zelensky leaves Washington, he heads to London, where he meets with European leaders, including Keir Starmer, the British prime minister. And this was already planned before the blowup in the Oval Office, but it's such a remarkable amount of timing because he is greeted with open arms, right? The Europeans have rallied to his side in this.

Yeah, absolutely. So as soon as Zelensky leaves Washington, he heads to London, where he meets with European leaders, including Keir Starmer, the British prime minister. And this was already planned before the blowup in the Oval Office, but it's such a remarkable amount of timing because he is greeted with open arms, right? The Europeans have rallied to his side in this.

One after the other, across the continent, they said, we stand with Ukraine, we stand with Zelensky. They Say the things that you just quoted the French prime minister is saying.

One after the other, across the continent, they said, we stand with Ukraine, we stand with Zelensky. They Say the things that you just quoted the French prime minister is saying.

And Starmer promises more funding, a couple more billion dollars worth of weapons for advanced air defense missiles and talks about a peacekeeping force that the Europeans can put together even without the Americans once there is a peace deal, if there's a peace deal to try to enforce it. But it's a test.

And Starmer promises more funding, a couple more billion dollars worth of weapons for advanced air defense missiles and talks about a peacekeeping force that the Europeans can put together even without the Americans once there is a peace deal, if there's a peace deal to try to enforce it. But it's a test.