The arrogance of the U.S. here almost defies description. It assumes that it can unilaterally direct geopolitical changes with global implications, including boundary alterations and membership in multilateral organizations. The Americans even presume to return Russia to the G7 (G8) without any consultation whatsoever.

The Americans are still the go-to source for high end weapons, but as Ukraine has discovered, Europe (and to a much lesser extent Canada) makes pretty decent kit as well. Moreover, Ukraine has made tremendous strides in developing its own defence industries and is far less reliant on foreign suppliers.

If there was ever any doubt that Trump is in Putin’s pocket, this fiasco dispels it. Trump may think this will get him next year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but his motives are now so transparent and he is so compromised that this is a fiction only his most deluded supporters cling to.