Russia
March 27, 2025 — John Hinderaker
At the outset of the Trump administration, I was confident that he would broker a peace between the exhausted combatants, Russia and Ukraine. I thought he would deserve, although of course he would not receive, the Nobel Peace Prize. But more recently, things seem to have gone sideways. This report from the London Times reflects a European perspective, but the facts are concerning: “Trump demands control of Ukraine’s minerals and
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March 11, 2025 — John Hinderaker
Representatives of the U.S. and Ukraine have been meeting in Saudi Arabia, with the result that Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day cease fire: The US state department has said in a joint statement with the Ukrainians that Washington will “immediately” lift the pause on intelligence-sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine. The US ban on intelligence-sharing was announced last week by the White House. At the time, US officials
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March 2, 2025 — John Hinderaker
On CNN this morning, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, who might be the dumbest man in government today, decried the Trump administration’s position on the Russia/Ukraine war. You can read much more at the link, but I am going to focus on just a couple of points. First, the question asked by CNN’s Dana Bash: Host Dana Bash said, “Do you think there’s hope of salvaging this relationship with Ukraine?” This
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March 1, 2025 — Steven Hayward
Yesterday and today I’m in the classroom all day leading an intensive seminar with Richard Epstein, John Yoo, and “Lucretia,” so I haven’t had time to take in the whole 50 minutes of what went down in the Oval Office yesterday. But my Poland-based friend Clifford Angell Bates passes along this Tweet from Michał Kuź, a Polish diplomat who earned a Ph.D in political science in the U.S. (Keep in
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February 28, 2025 — John Hinderaker
Today’s news is dominated by the Oval Office confrontation between Donald Trump and JD Vance on one side, and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on the other. This is what happened: Was this an ambush, planned in advance by Trump and Vance? Or was it a spontaneous response to Zelensky’s unwillingness to agree to a ceasefire? Or was it mostly about the fact that, as Vance said, Zelensky campaigned with the opposition
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February 24, 2025 — John Hinderaker
France’s President Emmanuel Macron is in Washington, and did a joint press conference with President Trump today, on the Russia-Ukraine war. News reports on the press conference fall along predictably partisan lines. This Sky News report is objective, if only because it is so brief: A half-turn, in a carefully choreographed dance, the US leader asserting optimism, the French one, much more cautious in response. President Trump repeated his view
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February 21, 2025 — Steven Hayward
Since many of our readers do not follow Twitter/X, it is worth bringing to everyone’s attention a very substantive exchange between Vice President Vance and historian Niall Ferguson. Ferguson is alarmed at Trump’s recent pronouncements and diplomatic initiatives over Ukraine, calling it “appeasement.” Vance very politely and respectfully dissents, followed by Ferguson’s rejoinder. Vance: In this thread I’ll respond to some of what I’ve seen out there. Let’s start with
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February 18, 2025 — John Hinderaker
Over the last year, I have been surprised to learn that in some quarters I am considered a “Never Trumper.” That is ridiculous: I have voted for Trump three times, and through the fall of 2024 I had a Trump sign in my front yard. I have commented on Trump’s actions many times, probably in the hundreds, and I would guess my assessments have been 85% positive. And I am
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February 16, 2025 — John Hinderaker
I appeared on Sky News Australia’s excellent Outsiders program last night. In a bit of a departure, most of my segment dealt with foreign policy. We talked about Gaza and Israel, and the fact that noon yesterday passed without all Hell breaking loose. We talked about the prospects for peace in Ukraine and Secretary Rubio’s visit to Israel. And we found time at the end for DOGE and the vast
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February 12, 2025 — Steven Hayward
After Trump’s first 22 days in office (only 22 days?!?!—it already seems like 22 months), we should not be surprised by big, sudden, bold moves. Today Trump has spoken on the phone with both Putin and Zelenskyy about finding a way to end Russia-Ukraine War, and there is a meeting set for Friday (the day before Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas about the remaining hostages expires).
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January 9, 2025 — Scott Johnson
Yesterday Yoram Hazony recommended Stalin’s War: A New History of World War II. It is a mind-boggling book that hasn’t received the recognition it is due. On the publication date of the book in 2021 we posted his backgrounder “The story behind Stalin’s War.” McMeekin’s “Stalin’s War” is the best history I’ve read in years. Among other themes: 1. Stalin was every bit as evil as Hitler. 2. FDR was
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December 9, 2024 — Scott Johnson
Close observers can tell that alleged President Biden is on his way out the door some time soon. He’s letting his forehead go to hell, as one can see in the video (below) of his statement yesterday afternoon on developments in Syria. He appears to have abandoned the Botox injections now that his exit from the White House is imminent, though it cannot come soon enough. In his statement Biden
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November 19, 2024 — Steven Hayward
Many readers objected to a post several weeks back suggesting that for effective purposes, World War III is underway, with Russia-China-Iran-North Korea and their various proxies forming the new Axis Powers. Some news items from today: • Israel Finds Large Troves of Russian Arms in Hezbollah’s Hands TEL AVIV—As Israel advances its invasion of southern Lebanon, its troops are finding large troves of Russian weapons, confirming longstanding suspicions in Israel
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October 26, 2024 — Steven Hayward
Many of the media headlines reporting on Israel’s air strikes on Iran in the middle of the night last night say something along the lines of “could lead to an escalation of the regional war.” I have news for everybody: World War III has been underway at least since October 7 of last year, whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The only question is whether its scale and
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October 9, 2024 — John Hinderaker
The Russia/Ukraine war has been a humanitarian disaster. Estimates vary, but somewhere around one million Russians and Ukrainians have been killed or wounded in the two and a half years since Russia’s invasion. Like almost all Americans, I was on Ukraine’s side when Russia launched its invasion, and I still am. But two and a half years down the road, one can only wonder whether Western support for Ukraine has
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September 30, 2024 — Scott Johnson
The Sunday morning gabfests are generally a waste of time, but Senator Tom Cotton’s appearances are not to be missed. He was the lead guest on Face the Nation yesterday. I have posted the video at the bottom. CBS has posted the transcript here. Robert Costa filled in for regular host Margaret Brennan. Costa asked Senator Cotton about Israel’s potential expansion of the war between Israel and Iran. This is
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September 9, 2024 — Scott Johnson
The Biden administration is pushing yet another edition of Russia! Russia! Russia! in collaboration with its media adjunct in the run-up to this year’s election. I have lost count, but I believe this is take 3. CNN’s Dana Bash sought to contribute to this year’s model in her interview with Senator Tom Cotton yesterday. Senator Cotton has posted video of his segment here on YouTube and I have embedded it
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