Budapest Breakdown
Trump is set to antagonize either Moscow or NATO allies
Ever true to form, Trump is meeting ‘Putin’ in Budapest to boost Russian interests. This time he will either throw in his lot fully and publicly with the Kremlin’s main war aim, which remains to destroy Ukraine, or he will slink away in yet another tactical retreat from his pro-Moscow default position, as he did with his lone pro-Ukraine post to date, on September 23rd.
Either way, a breakdown is likely – either in allied relations with Trump or in Trump’s relations with the Russian politburo, which remains committed to its policy of global aggression but also wants to set the stage for a smooth installation of an anointed heir apparent as Russia’s new president.
Let’s be clear. No date has yet been set for the Budapest summit. Hungary borders seven states, including Ukraine. Five are EU members; four are NATO allies. All are states party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which obligates them under international law to interdict and/or arrest ‘Putin’.
