This story appeared in The Logoff, a each day e-newsletter that helps you keep knowledgeable in regards to the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.
Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump took a chaotic, and at instances, incoherent flip by way of the eightieth assembly of the United Nations Basic Meeting on Tuesday, upending US coverage on the Russia-Ukraine conflict within the course of.
What simply occurred? Trump began his day with a weird speech to the assembled world leaders, at factors attacking different international locations, efforts to deal with local weather change, and the United Nations itself. The deal with was noticeably gentle on coverage and heavy on false claims.
Following a gathering with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, nevertheless, Trump made at the least two probably important pronouncements: NATO international locations ought to shoot down Russian jets that violate their airspace, and Ukraine ought to push to reclaim all of its unique territory from Russia.
What’s the context? Trump has been inconsistent about US coverage on the conflict. Final month, he hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit in Anchorage, Alaska, that was extensively perceived as a win for the Russian president; in the present day’s assertion marks an about-face on Trump’s acknowledged imaginative and prescient for an finish to the conflict.
Why does this matter? Trump has intermittently appeared disillusioned about his relationship with Putin, together with in remarks in the present day with French President Emmanuel Macron. Coupled together with his reply on how NATO international locations ought to reply to airspace violations and his new place on the conflict, this might be probably the most aggressive stance of his presidency towards Russia — if he sticks with it.
What’s the large image? Trump modifications his thoughts on even the most important coverage questions, and he’s usually topic to the opinions of the individuals he final spoke with (on this case, Zelenskyy and European leaders supporting him, like Macron). That makes protecting what he says in main moments like these troublesome, however his pronouncements can have severe real-world implications. Whether or not they represent a significant coverage shift stays to be seen.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Fats Bear Week has begun! Shut readers of the e-newsletter could keep in mind the Brooks Falls livestream in Alaska’s Katmai Nationwide Park, which has featured beforehand. After a busy summer season of feasting on salmon, the bears from that livestream at the moment are going head-to-head to find out this 12 months’s fattest bear. Voting in the primary spherical of the match is open till 9 pm Japanese tonight, and you’ll weigh in right here. Let me know if in case you have a favourite you’re rooting for!
