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Welcome to The Logoff: Immediately we’re specializing in a brand new growth 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,” equivalent to energy vegetation and refineries. The deliberate pause follows a prolonged cellphone name between Trump and Putin earlier right now.
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 overseas nations reduce off army and intelligence help to Ukraine — a requirement Trump has not agreed to.
What hasn’t modified? Combating alongside the entrance traces, and presumably additionally drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities, will proceed. The US will even proceed offering weapons and intelligence to Ukraine, after briefly suspending each earlier this month.
What’s the massive image for Ukraine? The optimistic take on what occurred right now is that the 2 sides are speaking — by way of the US — and that this could possibly be the premise for a broader ceasefire. Then again, current statements from Russian officers counsel they’re nonetheless pushing for a demilitarized and subservient Ukraine. And Putin could also be doing simply sufficient to maintain Trump comfortable whereas persevering with to press his benefit on the battlefield.
What did we find out about Trump? Trump didn’t completely promote Ukraine out, which appeared like an actual risk only a few weeks in the past. Then again, 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 look like he was glad with the outcome, regardless of Putin’s unwillingness to again down.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
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 beloved this line: “What is much extra nourishing than the sugar excessive of validation is an inside strategy of recognizing your personal worthiness.”
It’s simpler mentioned than carried out, however, for me a minimum of, it’s an excellent aspiration. Thanks a lot for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow.
