Trump/Putin meeting; No Deal and Disgusting Optics

Since the details of the meeting between President Trump and Russian madman Vladimir Putin have not been revealed – especially the alleged “agreements” — we can only judge the event by what we do know.  From my perspective, it was very sad performance.  Trump is supposed to be tough and a great dealmaker.  He demonstrated neither of those traits in Alaska.

By all measures, the meeting was a failure – even by Trump’s pre-meeting assessment.  He was very clear about two things.  The purpose of the meeting was to achieve a ceasefire – and without a ceasefire, there could be no future peace negotiations. Instead, there would be a very harsh response in terms of sanctions and increased military support for Ukraine.  That makes sense.

After the meeting, Trump did another of his 180-degree reversals.  Having failed to get the ceasefire, Trump now contends that it is better to enter directly into peace negotiations without wasting time on a ceasefire.  That means Putin can drag out any peace talks with delays and unacceptable demands — while he continues his murderous war crimes on the people of Ukraine in the hope of winning more ground.  In fact, Putin’s military was attacking Ukrainians even as he and Trump were talking peace behind closed doors.

Trump has often expressed his desire to stop the killing, and that is  a noble goal – maybe even a Nobel Prize goal.  But he reached a low point when he said, “We are going to stop … really … five, six, seven thousands of people a week from being killed. President Putin wants to see that as much as I do,” (My highlight). Suggesting that Putin has had any good intentions – or gives a damn about the deaths he has caused and is causing – is an absurdity.

The failure to achieve any concessions from Putin is bad enough, but the optics were sickening.  Trump gave Putin the royal welcome with a meeting at the airport … the red carpets … the ceremonial flyover … and warm handshakes and smiles.

All this for a man who invaded a free and independent democracy that is supposedly an ally of the United States and the European Union.  This for a man who has killed more people in the past three years than the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the Hamas war and all the terrorist attacks combined.  He is a war criminal, and yet Trump treats him with an undeserved fawning respect and praise.

There should have been no meeting at the airport … no red carpets … no flyover … no traveling together in the White House vehicle …  no handshakes … no friendly smiles … and no joint press conference.  Trump and Putin should have arrived at the meeting separately and unceremoniously. Trump should have held the press conference on his own – with Putin dispatched to his plane and on his way back to Mother Russia.

Trump’s fan club claims he showed strength.  WHAT?  He was rolled, tied and tattooed by Putin. The Russian dictator got an image makeover and Trump got nothing.  And Ukraine was sidelined as if it had no interests in the negotiations,

And what about all those tough actions Trump promised if there was no ceasefire?  We will have to wait and see.  Judging from Trump’s initial response, Putin may have won on those, too.  All that may be put off pending some very long and fruitless peace talks. 

Putin may eventually come to the table — but not in good faith.  Only to look reasonable as he delays and thwarts any progress toward peace – and escalates his dirty war.  Putin launched this war to take over all of Ukraine and has not given up on that ambition.

For reasons beyond rational explanation, Trump gave Putin a huge public relations and psychological win.  Trump burnished the image of a megalomaniacal mass murderer.  Thanks to Trump, Putin appeared to the world as a major player … a legitimate leader worthy of respect.  It is no wonder that the Russian delegation and media were ecstatic with the meeting.  Putin enhanced his image and conceded nothing.

If Trump and Europe are willing to allow Putin to annex 20 percent of Ukrainian territory without consequences for the death and destruction — the kidnapping … the war crimes … then he will have every incentive to continue his war. 

Trump was no dealmaker in this round.  He was the sucker at the table – or worse yet, the shill.  His treatment of Putin was wrong strategically, politically and morally.  It is easy to make a deal if you are willing to concede and appease.  Trump talked like he pulled a rabbit out of the hat, but all I saw was a pig with lipstick.

So, there ‘tis.