This story appeared in The Logoff, a day by day publication that helps you keep knowledgeable concerning the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.
Welcome to The Logoff: At the moment we’re specializing in a brand new improvement in Ukraine that provides us extra perception into Donald Trump’s strategy to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
What’s the most recent? Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy are every supporting a 30-day pause in assaults on “vitality and infrastructure,” corresponding to energy crops and refineries. The deliberate pause follows a prolonged telephone name between Trump and Putin earlier immediately.
Putin did not conform to a full ceasefire, which Trump has proposed and which Ukraine had assented to earlier. Russia put out a post-call assertion suggesting that it could solely agree if international nations lower off navy and intelligence help to Ukraine — a requirement Trump has not agreed to.
What hasn’t modified? Combating alongside the entrance strains, and presumably additionally drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities, will proceed. The US can even proceed offering weapons and intelligence to Ukraine, after briefly suspending each earlier this month.
What’s the large image for Ukraine? The optimistic take on what occurred immediately is that the 2 sides are speaking — by way of the US — and that this may very well be the idea for a broader ceasefire. Alternatively, latest statements from Russian officers recommend they’re nonetheless pushing for a demilitarized and subservient Ukraine. And Putin could also be doing simply sufficient to maintain Trump blissful whereas persevering with to press his benefit on the battlefield.
What did we study Trump? Trump didn’t completely promote Ukraine out, which appeared like an actual risk only a few weeks in the past. Alternatively, he additionally doesn’t appear to place stress on Russia to conform to an actual ceasefire, as he did with Ukraine. Trump’s personal assertion concerning the name makes it seem to be he was glad with the consequence, regardless of Putin’s unwillingness to again down.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
A part of the lure of social media is the promise of exterior validation, and so I actually appreciated this piece from my Vox colleague Allie Volpe. It explains why we’re hard-wired to hunt validation — and the way we are able to keep away from being trapped by that want. I significantly liked this line: “What is way extra nourishing than the sugar excessive of validation is an inner strategy of recognizing your personal worthiness.”
It’s simpler stated than executed, however, for me at the very least, it’s a superb aspiration. Thanks a lot for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow.
