No wonder Putin feels bold
U.S. envoys in Ukraine seem desperate while Germany’s right surges. September 9, 2026 at 1:38 p.m. EDT Today at 1:38 p.m. EDT image Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Sunday. (Francisco Seco/AP)/ By John R. Bolton John R. Bolton was the White House national security adviser from 2018 to 2019. jb: More on Bolton and Ukraine below (from Wikipedia) Conventional wisdom holds that negotiations to resolve international conflicts are always useful. The media, encouraged by negotiators themselves, often reinforces this view, noting that talks are progressing, referring to their quickening pace or intensifying efforts and the anticipation of further meetings. Feckless diplomacy, however, can do more harm than good. Fate can also take a hand, with unforeseen developments bolstering one combatant’s negotiating position. What will happen in the 2026 midterms? Sign up for Margin of Victory Unfortunately, the latter scenario may be...