Excellent roundup of course. Can you weigh in once and for all, as I have heard this business about Putin not invading if Trump had been in office, and do not believe that. What is your view? It is amazing that Trump has never criticized him, I think Putin may have something on him.
Why no Pompeo return? Is he being cautious, distancing himself, readying for 2028?
I don't think it is easy to say whether Putin would have invaded or not. A lot of it depends on precisely what Trump would have done in the lead up to it. I might write about it in future. One thing I am pretty sure about: just having a personal relationship and telling Putin ''don't go into Ukraine'' would most likely prove itself insufficient. Likely there would have been need for huge armament of Ukraine and clear warning on next steps if Putin was to cross that line. None of that was done by Biden. Not sure if Trump would have - very possible though.
Pompeo wasn't personally loyal enough to Trump that's why. He rightly criticized him for Jan 6.
So Trump/Rubio seem to be leaning toward a deal that lets Putin keep the eastern lands he has control over now (as well as Crimea, sadly). In return for withdrawing and ending the war. And banning Ukraine from NATO. If this was proposed or done, could Zelensky politically survive it? Would he agree to it? In exchange for guaranteed NATO admission (within a couple of years)? And does not that set up a terrible precedent for the Baltic States, Moldova, etc?
Excellent roundup of course. Can you weigh in once and for all, as I have heard this business about Putin not invading if Trump had been in office, and do not believe that. What is your view? It is amazing that Trump has never criticized him, I think Putin may have something on him.
Why no Pompeo return? Is he being cautious, distancing himself, readying for 2028?
I don't think it is easy to say whether Putin would have invaded or not. A lot of it depends on precisely what Trump would have done in the lead up to it. I might write about it in future. One thing I am pretty sure about: just having a personal relationship and telling Putin ''don't go into Ukraine'' would most likely prove itself insufficient. Likely there would have been need for huge armament of Ukraine and clear warning on next steps if Putin was to cross that line. None of that was done by Biden. Not sure if Trump would have - very possible though.
Pompeo wasn't personally loyal enough to Trump that's why. He rightly criticized him for Jan 6.
So Trump/Rubio seem to be leaning toward a deal that lets Putin keep the eastern lands he has control over now (as well as Crimea, sadly). In return for withdrawing and ending the war. And banning Ukraine from NATO. If this was proposed or done, could Zelensky politically survive it? Would he agree to it? In exchange for guaranteed NATO admission (within a couple of years)? And does not that set up a terrible precedent for the Baltic States, Moldova, etc?