Trump bending over backwards for Russia

Ex-US ambassador slams Trump team for pre-talks concessions to Putin
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-us-ambassador-slams-trump-121833170.html

A former US ambassador in Moscow, Michael McFaul, has criticized the approach of the new US administration regarding peace talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict in an interview published on Thursday in Germany's Stern magazine.

His team is making "major concessions" to Russian President Vladimir Putin, McFaul said in comments published in German.

At a NATO defence ministers meeting on Wednesday, Hegseth said Ukraine's membership in NATO is not realistic and that it cannot expect to keep its pre-war territory. He added that the United States would not guarantee Ukraine's security.

"I do not consider it a wise strategy to give Putin everything he wants before even coming to the negotiating table – especially with the Ukrainians," McFaul said.

"Everything is a transaction for him. In this respect, he and Trump are very similar," McFaul noted. This is why he is extremely surprised that Trump's negotiators have already rewarded Putin before negotiations have even begun: "This is not how you negotiate – especially not with the Russians."

The fact that the US would not send soldiers to Ukraine should be part of an agreement, and Washington should get something in return, he argued.

It is also "simply absurd" that Trump thinks he can negotiate with Putin and subsequently inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, McFaul said, adding, "That is not going to work."

The impression that has been created – that Putin and Trump can negotiate over the Ukrainians' heads – is a very poor start, he said.

According to McFaul, it is in the West's interest that not only the US, Russia and Ukraine sit at the negotiating table, but also European representatives. "After all, Europe has the most to lose after Ukraine," McFaul said.