Subject: Re: U.S. and Russian Meeting
The Felon may not be shipping arms to Putin, but I think I see now why they are holding meetings. The one thing the US can influence is admission of Ukraine into NATO. For Putin that is a no-go. I'm sure Zelensky, after all this, very much wants that option. So Zelensky doesn't need to be in the room for the US to agree to veto any attempt at joining NATO. In fact, he'd just get in the way.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eur...

As the 4-1/2-hour meeting in the Saudi capital was underway, Russia hardened its demands, notably insisting it would not tolerate the NATO alliance granting membership to Kyiv.

Also, for the record, someone mentioned Crimea. I can't speak for all, but I was not happy with the Obama response to that (which was anemic, IMO). Even then I was thinking "Rhineland, Ruhr, and Sudetenland". I won't say I saw the invasion of Ukraine coming, but it was clear that if we let Putin get away with taking Crimea, he would be emboldened to further belligerent activities. Which, it seems, he was. It is just very fortunate for us that he has mostly failed in this latest escapade, seriously degraded his military, harmed his economy, and motived two new members to NATO. A Trumpian-level fustercluck that worked out for us.

And now the Felon is going to blow it.