How Trump Gained the Upper Hand with Putin

Tomorrow s meeting is a chance for Trump to size up the opposition. The president feels like, Look, I ve got to look at this guy across the table, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a recent interview. I need to see him face-to-face.

The danger is that every president since George W. Bush has assumed that a strong personal relationship will curb Putin s misbehavior. And every president has been wrong.

Anchorage is where President Trump can break the pattern. He can listen, decide if a ceasefire is possible and, if not, say goodbye and leave. Then let the economic and security tools at his disposal do the talking in the only language Vladimir Putin understands.

via www.thefp.com

I’d say Mathew Continetti is correct. I bet Trump is cynical and tempered enough to see through Putin and I guess we’ll find out.