“Republican lawmakers are incensed about President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Ukraine — and powerless to stop him,” Politico reports.

“That frustration hit a new peak on Monday as they sought to address the president’s decision to purchase Russian diesel, waive sanctions on Moscow and potentially stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine. Those moves, coupled with days of unexplained disruptions in Kyiv’s U.S.-controlled satellite defenses, left them freelancing remedies to address the new rift between Washington and Kyiv.”

Paul Krugman: “Trump’s support for Putin is unique in American history. Previous administrations have made deals with erstwhile adversaries, as Nixon did with China, and given up on support for failing allies, as the U.S. did in Vietnam and Afghanistan. But never before have we outright switched sides, let alone supported an aggressor while vilifying that aggressor’s victim.”

“What makes Trump’s support for Putin even more remarkable is that Russia has, by many accounts, been actively aiding Iran against America in the war Trump started. Who says so? Well, among others, Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And the aid goes beyond intelligence sharing that has helped Iran target U.S. forces. Russia has also reportedly been sending Iran explosives and weapons components.”

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with U.S. special envoys on Tuesday after President Donald Trump aimed a fresh spate of criticism at the wartime leader,” CNBC reports.

“Zelensky will arrive in Norway on Tuesday and meet with the country’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr and President of Finland Alexander Stubb in Oslo later in the day. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will also take part in the discussions.”

“President Trump’s intensifying effort in the past few weeks to rehabilitate Russia and usher President Vladimir V. Putin back into diplomatic society is remarkable for its speed, its characterization of Mr. Zelensky as the primary obstacle to peace, and its brazen denial that Russia is continuing the war that Mr. Trump says he is trying to end,” the New York Times reports.

Said Trump: “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven’t been doing much.”

In contrast, he added: “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. They’ve given nothing to us. Remember that.”

“The Trump administration has not approved the transfer of interceptor missiles to Ukraine that are needed to protect the country from Russian missile and drone attacks, a delay that comes as President Donald Trump has embraced Russia and slammed Ukraine in recent weeks,” the Washington Post reports.

“President Donald Trump on Monday said he thought someone other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ‌should negotiate on Kyiv’s behalf as it seeks to end the war with Russia,” Reuters reports.

Said Trump: “Maybe it’s time for Zelensky to ⁠get somebody else to negotiate.”

“President Donald Trump downplayed expectations for a November meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un amid speculation over renewed U.S. efforts to reach out to the reclusive regime in Pyongyang,” Bloomberg reports.

Said Trump: “I don’t know. I’m not sure that anybody’s asking for a meeting, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is very good.”

“President Donald Trump said Monday that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss how to end the Ukraine war, while criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,” CNBC reports.

“Trump suggested that that meeting, which Putin reportedly proposed, could take place without Zelensky present.”

Bloomberg: Trump open to Putin, Xi summit but would focus on nuclear arms.

The Atlantic: “President Trump’s inexplicable decision to waive some sanctions on Russia, announced late Friday, essentially gives a pass to the forces of evil in the Kremlin. The move effectively nullifies legislation that was named after the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, passed by huge bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate, and signed by the president.”

“This decision is the latest in a long series that this administration has taken to appease or accommodate the Russians in misguided attempts to get them to negotiate. Russian President Vladimir Putin pockets these naive offerings and still refuses to talk.”

“Surveys show that most Americans stand with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia, view Putin as a dangerous threat who shouldn’t be trusted, and want to see the United States offer more assistance to Ukraine.”

“President Trump, defending his decision to ease tariffs and other sanctions against Russia, said on Sunday that he was making ‘great progress’ in a peace deal with the Kremlin and suggested for the first time that the process included ‘hostage negotiations,'” the New York Times reports.

“He did not specify whose release he was seeking.”

MS NOW: Trump’s latest pro-Putin moves prompt bipartisan backlash and awkward questions.