Putin in the Cat Bird Seat (II)

Check this piece in the Spectator World. How serious is Putin about ending the war in Ukraine? - The Spectator World

Putin is playing Trump like a fiddle (as he should, from his point of view i.e. Putin holds all the top cards)
See Putin in the Cat Bird Seat | Stephen DeWitt Taylor

Euros are flailing, flaccid, weak and irrelevant. As I've said repeatedly in the past. Russia's staying power i.e.. capacity for internal pain, is beyond Western comprehension.

Putin will string "negotiations" (including a cease fire) out as long as he can. Putin will pursue military gains as "negotiations" proceed.

A friend asked me three years ago how to neuter Putin in the US's foolish initiation of a proxy war with Russia. My answer to that question today is the same as it was then: "Pump more oil." Trump should get his newfound buddies in Saudi and the Gulf to join him in flooding the world with oil thereby extinguishing Russia's source of prosperity. Lower oil prices would also have a stimulative effect on the world economy particularly as apprehension about Trump's tariffs lingers. The other way to get Putin to be serious would be for Trump to bring out the "big stick," US military/NATO forces on the ground in Ukraine (let's not even think nukes). Trump doesn't have the stomach to do that particularly given the current feeble condition of the US military. Meanwhile, I hope Zelenski's Sikorsky is fueled up and ready to go.