Russia Applebaum (Trump)

Trump lacks leverage against Putin as U.S. policy actions weaken support for Ukraine: sanctions are being eased, and media funding for independent outlets is cut.
Putin's calculation: if the U.S. won't use economic, military, or political tools, Trump cannot be a credible peacemaker; Russia maintains leverage.
Alaska/Anchorage summit described as tragic-farce: humiliation for Americans; Trump treated Putin as superior; Witkoff misread the last meeting; no cease-fire, but calls for peace negotiations risk prolonging the war.
Russian media portrayal: focus on business cooperation; Putin's statement about 'huge potential' in Russian-American business.
The broader trend: U.S. foreign-policy tools being dismantled; agencies undermined by unqualified appointees; 'We’ve been giving them away.'
Consequence: the U.S. has 'no cards' now; regaining leverage requires rebuilding: Arm Ukraine, expand sanctions, stop drone swarms, break the Russian economy, and win the war; then there will be peace.

Anchorage is the culmination of a longer process; not a new Munich or Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact; it's a marker of policy drift.

Without reasserting tools and leadership, Russia will continue to profit and Ukraine suffer.

Regain leverage by implementing: Arm Ukraine; expand sanctions; stop lethal drone swarms; break the Russian economy; win the war; then peace.

'Every month he's spent in office without action has strengthened Putin's hand, weakened ours and undermined Ukraine's own efforts to bring an end to the war.'
'We’ve been giving them away.'
'Anchorage will probably not be remembered as history’s crime scenes, a new Munich Conference, or a Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.'