So, that Trump-Putin meeting went about as well as expected. Trump literally rolled out the red carpet for a murderer and war criminal, gave him a military flypast, and then invited him into his limo (even though Putin brought his own), which freaked out every single security expert on social media and television, because they were alone together, and nobody knows if Trump explained to him the security measures in the vehicle, or if anything else was said with no one else around to hear.
The meeting went nowhere, in spite of talk about an “understanding,” and in the press conference after, Putin went first, spoke at length, flattered Trump obsequiously, and Trump rambled at his incoherent best about how they didn’t come to an agreement, and they didn’t take any questions at the end. But they were chummy, and Trump still thinks he’s Putin’s best friend, and the war will continue, as we all knew it would.
I continue to be struck by Putin's confidence in the idea that he can play Trump. His whole remarks stuck to the idea that the only barriers to peace are Ukraine and Europe. Not even a hat tip to what Russia wants or expects from a deal. Just total bullshit and Trump flattery.
The fact that they didn't take questions seems to be a tacit acknowledgement that they got nowhere and have nothing to say. At best, Trump is going to be irate that the bombardment of Ukraine continues after today.At worst, Trump is going to be sucked into a vortex of time-wasting summits.
The Kremlin just dropped this clip of Putin and Trump getting chummy post-press conference.
Just to hammer this in:I don't know of an example in US history of comparable *in-person humiliation* for a US president. And of course for the country. Trump will soon realize how visibly he was "owned." In view of the whole world.
— James Fallows (@jfallows.bsky.social) 2025-08-16T00:17:22.899Z
The meeting was a disaster for everyone except two people. Trump got his photo op and his ego boost. Putin got his photo op, whitewashing of war crimes and no sanctions. No one in Ukraine, Europe or the United States benefited in any way.
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum.bsky.social) 2025-08-16T04:12:52.329Z
Ukraine Dispatch
Ahead of the meeting, Russia attacked Dnipropetrovsk with missiles, killing at least one and wounding at least one other. Ukrainian drones hit the Syzrn oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region.
Good reads:
- Mark Carney is planning to visit Mexico next month to further bilateral relations.
- Patty Hajdu is calling on Air Canada and the flight attendants’ union to return to the bargaining table, but has not indicated government action.
- Rather than make a decision as a civilian overseer, David McGuinty says he’ll take the military’s lead on the F-35s, which means that’s what we’re going to get.
- Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has yet to differentiate us from the Americans.
- The head of the Royal Canadian Navy wants the government to choose which company will be replacing our submarine fleet by the end of the year.
- Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux’s mandate expires on September 2nd, and he’s heard nothing about who is going to replace him. (Good riddance!)
- At the UN negotiations for a plastics pollution treaty, Canada did not push for a cap on said pollution as they didn’t think it would be agreed to.
- A group of advocates are raising money to relocate a group of women Afghan students to the University of Regina.
- Here is an interview about Canada’s need to better develop our own digital sovereignty, as we are too dependent on American web giants.
- Conservatives want the public safety committee to look into the hotel bills regarding the return of those Canadian women from Syrian custody.
- After pushback, Danielle Smith says she is considering walking back rule changes that reduced the disclosure requirements for government officials.
- Patricia Treble praises Princess Anne and her indefatigable work ethic.
- Andrew Coyne dismisses the hysterical notion that the Cowichan Tribes decision heralds the “end of property rights,” and goes through the history of this case.
Odds and ends:
In which @clareblackwood.bsky.social channels the Air Canada CEO.
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-08-15T21:11:06.955Z
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