Julia Davis writes:

The shadow of former President Donald J. Trump hovered over talks between the United States and Russia. On Tuesday, as the summit was about to begin, Skabeeva alleged that Trump’s approval ratings were much higher than Biden’s. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the special channel used for the video exchange between the presidents was created during Trump’s tenure: “This is a secure channel. It was created according to decisions that were made by previous administrations. It was inactive but technologically maintained in a working state. Now we have decided to use it for the heads of state. It creates the effect of a rather personal communication and… makes it possible to discuss very, very secretive topics.”

Retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor, who served as a senior official in the Trump administration’s Department of Defense, gave an interview to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti complaining that Biden “disregarded Russia’s interests” and demonstrated his “inability to compromise.” This, Macgregor complained, serves as cause for Putin’s “surprise and dismay” with the stance of the current American leadership.

Macgregor is apparently comfortable with Kremlin-funded state media, having sat down for multiple interviews on RT over the years. He went on: “Washington has only one interest in the current crisis—to prevent unnecessary war between Ukraine and Russia. But Biden and his friends deliberately ignored this interest because it would involve compromise. As a morally righteous leftist, he is incapable of compromise.”

Every time Trump makes a derogatory statement about his successor, Russian state media has showcased and applauded his commentary. [Continue reading…]