Putin ignites – with success in Washington

So far, Russia has not had to pay a political price for its military threats against Ukraine. On the contrary: it is rewarded with a summit meeting and has managed to expose the indecision of the West.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is putting the neighboring Ukraine under heavy military pressure.

Alexei Druzhinin / AP

For two weeks, the Russian leadership rattled its saber, relocated thousands of soldiers to the border with Ukraine and openly threatened the annihilation of the neighboring country. Now President Putin can boast at least a partial success: The USA suddenly shows that it is ready for the summit long awaited by the Kremlin, which was previously only seen as a distant prospect. Like a defiant child who stomps on the floor until he is paid attention, the Kremlin ruler has earned a place high on the American list of priorities.