Subject: Re: Let’s See If This Pans Out for Putin
Given that everything is *exactly* the same after as before, we think we can agree that we are in the same place we were.

Don't agree. Putin got a publicity boon. Maybe nothing has changed in official terms, but just getting this "summit" was a win for Putin. He never should have been allowed to meet with the POTUS. At best, a low-level negotiator. Too much prestige, otherwise.

Yes, I have to agree with you. Putin is now stronger than before. Trump is now weaker than before. I’m not sure about that last one, nobody’s in the international community thinks Trump is strong anyway, with his dithering, bombastic, and absurd proclamations (“Make Canada a state!” “Sell us Greenland”, etc.)

So yeah, it’s not “exactly” the same - it’s worse.