I understand the criticism, Trump has essentially given away some core issues before negotiation starts, usually not what you want to do. However, a more favorable interpretation is that all knew these things were not really on the table, and it might help to build trust with Putin. My feeling is that it is hard to tell how this will play out for now..
Its also blatantly obvious, that he will roll over to the demands of authoritarians that are willing to scratch his weak ego. He is basically like Biden and Obama unable to stand up to any bully- a kingdom for a true hawk.
That is not obvious to me. Despite the many flaws I see in Trump, rolling over does not seem to be his first instinct. And European leaders surely are not above playing his ego either.
> rolling over does not seem to be his first instinct
He will if you scratch his ego, especially for actions which benefit him personally (rather than actions that benefit the people.... that is to say the people of Ukraine and the free world).
Russias conquered landmass is surrounded by suppressed ethnicities with an axe to grind. You do not get to have a moment of weakness in that region.
You have a moment of weakness and then the aserbeidschanis, the turks, the chechyans and the chinese jump you and turn the yalu river red. Russias benefit was the tech transfer from europe to always stay ahead of the competition. They can not have a peaceful europe.
>if the nazis look like liberators compared to that
I have no doubt that Nazis looked like liberators to the people who ethnically cleansed Jews[0][1] and Poles[2].
Fast forward to the 21st century and we see major avenues in Kiev renamed to honor Nazi collaborators. It's quite telling that the avenue that is now named after Shukhevych[3] used to honor Nikolai Vatutin[4][5], Soviet general who fought Nazis on the territory of Ukraine.
