Trump’s All-In for Putin

William Kristol: “He’s now mocking Ukraine for not having fought valiantly to defend itself for three years, and he’s attacking its elected leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a dictator. His vice president and national security adviser are portraying Zelensky as the obstacle to peace. His administration is embracing Putin’s demand that Ukraine, contrary to what its constitution envisions in a time of martial law, hold elections before direct Russia-Ukrainian negotiations can begin—a transparent negotiating ploy that allows Russia to stall for time to see if Ukrainian demoralization might set in on the battlefield.”

“All of this is a prelude to blaming Zelensky for the failure to attain a negotiated peace, and to abandoning Ukraine.”

“Trump is also preparing to throw our European allies, many of whom want to stand with Ukraine, under the bus. Thus his administration has expressed a willingness to entertain the long-standing Russian demand that the U.S. remove troops from the frontline NATO countries most threatened by Russia. Such a move would effectively mark the end of NATO, which Trump, once again following Putin’s lead, would presumably welcome.”