"I don't regard Putin as a bad guy," he said. "He's super smart"

This CNN article offers some further insights into USA thinking, well worth a read

edition.cnn.com/2025/03/22/europe/witkoff-carlson-trump-russia-ukraine-talks-intl/index.html

But some relevant snippets

First, on territory

"The biggest obstacle to resolving Russia’s war in Ukraine is the status of Crimea and the four mainland Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia, said US special envoy Steve Witkoff, calling them “the elephant in the room” in peace talks.

Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy who also plays a key role in talks with Russia, said the “constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede… with regard to territory” had become “the elephant in the room” during negotiations. Talks are set to resume Monday in Saudi Arabia, with US officials set to meet officials from both Russia and Ukraine.

“The Russians are de facto in control of these territories. The question is: Will the world acknowledge that those are Russian territories?” Witkoff asked. “Can (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky survive politically if he acknowledges this? This is the central issue in the conflict

Zelensky stressed last weekend that Ukraine’s position “is that we do not recognize the occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian.”

Second, on further Russia/US relationships
"Witkoff implied that resolving the war in Ukraine could lead to cooperation on a broader range of issues, and that the two sides were thinking about “integrating their energy policies in the Arctic,” sharing sea lanes, collaborating on artificial intelligence and sending liquefied natural gas “into Europe together.”

“Who doesn’t want to have a world where Russia and the United States are doing, collaboratively, good things together?” he asked"

ronib

Russia might have grounds for attacking the Uk and probably would like to retaliate but so far, has shown remarkable discipline in holding back. I don’t know for how much longer? Obviously all its energy is needed in Ukraine.

I think you are overlooking the fact that as yet, Putin does not dare attack a country that is a member of NATO, which surely the UK still is?

Meanwhile Germany is putting a lot more money in defence.

"Do you think you can trust Putin?” German Brig. Gen. Ralf Hammerstein asks with a wry smile."

edition.cnn.com/2025/03/23/europe/germany-military-investment-intl/index.html

Dear God, it makes the Cold War seem like the good old days.

It's a dangerous situation as if Trump pulls out of NATO to side with Russia the UK and other European countries will be vulnerable.

Trouble is, you never know with Trump, as he and administration do throw out threats to try and get an effect without actually acting on them.

AGAA4

It's a dangerous situation as if Trump pulls out of NATO to side with Russia the UK and other European countries will be vulnerable.

I bet China is watching this and waiting.

A masterstroke. Telling a narcissist that you are ordering a portrait of him.

That German money for munitions is not going to the American armaments industry, as they can no longer be trusted.

We have to stay close to Europe, it's quite clear, with the same discretion so far practiced on the Ukraine issue. Keep dialogues open as long as possible. Always try jaw jaw not war war.

Didn't that Envoy say something about how impotent the Europeans will be, pretending we are Churchhills?

Oh yes - the nasty slagging off put down bit - well no surprises there? Its in the article.

I was glad to see Rachel Reeves on LK this morning just shook off what the US envoy said about Churchill as totally irrelevant.

That bullying seems to be the way they do 'diplomacy' just now.

So, according to Trump and his cronies the UK, Europe, and Ukraine, are the enemy, with never a good word to say.
A new world order indeed, where the US forms an alliance with Russia against erstwhile allies.
And as for berating the UK and Europe for trying to be like Churchill - war like rhetoric in and of itself - I would say that the US is channeling Mussolini.

The whole point of alliances is to ensure the strong don't bully the weak. Trump and Putin are both bullies and prepared to ignore the laws and norms that have given the world relative stability since the last world war. If only Europe and the US had acted more decisively in 2014, we might not be in this mess. We have entered a dangerous time and I firmly believe we have to show a united front with the rest of Europe. This is not the time to pretend Ukraine's war doesn't affect us. It most definitely does.

Putin has definitely got the measure of Trump ....*He also said Putin had commissioned a portrait of the US president as a gift and Trump was "clearly touched by it".* Brilliant!

Just the job for a self-absorbed guy like Trump - spot on!

Classic bit of grooming.

Is there no-one in the Trump administration who can see what is going on?

ronib

My enemy’s enemy and all that? We must have infuriated Putin when BJ made us stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. Not that it helped that much - 3 years further down the line.
Would you agree to a very disagreeable mother in law settling a family dispute? I don’t think so.

To begin with, it is not a family dispute. That family split up a long time ago, and no longer owns any property. The aggressor who thought he could grab what he wanted has no right to any more garden than he now lives on and cultivates.

I wouldn't agree to it being settled by someone who lived on the other side of town so is not familiar with the area, was a very good pal of the one who started the fight, and who has about enough ability to settle any dispute amicably as a wolverine rampaging through a herd of deer. This is particularly true when the garden belonging to the side which they are clearly NO LONGER SUPPORTING (despite promises) has some valuable stuff in or under it, which the "settler" is hoping to gain possession of, if the side HE IS NOW SUPPORTING can wrest them from the rightful owner and use them to reward him. He is not a neutral referee, he has had a better offer, and is trying to take advantage of it.