February 23, 2026
Hanna Notte
The following is an excerpt from The New York Times.
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was many things — brazen land grab, fantasy bred in isolation, czarist cosplay. It was also a plea for respect. After three decades of perceived Western encroachment, Mr. Putin sought to strike back at the agent of Russia’s confinement, the United States. A blitzkrieg, he surely surmised, would put America in its place and give Russia the power to shape Europe’s destiny. When Mr. Putin spoke, the United States would have to listen.
With President Trump’s return to the White House, Mr. Putin’s bet finally seemed close — after years of failure — to paying off. Mr. Trump appeared eager to wash his hands of the war in Ukraine, claiming he could end it in “24 hours.” Even if Mr. Trump did not outright abandon Ukraine, he could be strung along as Russian forces pressed forward on the battlefield. In time, Russia and the United States would restore relations and cooperate — from the Arctic to the Middle East, arms control to trade. America’s attitude to Russia would finally acquire common sense.
One year later, those hopes have been dashed. As the war grinds on, Mr. Trump’s admiration for Mr. Putin has not turned into much that actually benefits Russia. Efforts to normalize the bilateral relationship have gone nowhere: There has been no progress on resuming direct flights or sending a new U.S. ambassador to Moscow. Neither the red-carpet fanfare of the leaders’ one-off summit in Alaska last summer nor the backslapping bonhomie of their cronies is a substitute for proper diplomatic ties. Talk aside, the Trump White House has not been good for Russia.
Continue reading at The New York Times.
