Subject: Re: Let’s See If This Pans Out for Putin
No, you have to at least make the attempt. That was the point.

No, you don't. If you don't have any reason to think that Russia has reached the point where they will seriously entertain material points in negotiations, you don't have to - and shouldn't - schedule a summit. Keep having low-level negotiations until they do make it clear they will engage in anything serious.

Those people care more about the *economic* cost to what he’s doing. Whether or not Putin was served poached Halibut or foie gras in Alaska is irrelevant.

These people know 100% that how Russia is treated diplomatically is an important window into where the West is headed on economic issues, as well as DJT's feelings towards Putin and the country. If you roll out a literal red carpet for Putin, that will be reassuring to all his lenders and businessmen - things may be bad, but they're not so bad that the U.S. (one of the most important countries in the world) is still insisting on full diplomatic isolation.

So yes, things like this matter. A lot. We handed Putin a massive amount of propaganda/symbolic fuel to shore up his position at home, which will be useful to him, and got nothing in return. And we knew we would get nothing in return, but did it anyway.