Welcome to my weekly update on Putin’s war of conquest in Ukraine.
There are three major themes this week. First, over 90 countries participated in an international peace conference in Switzerland last weekend. I’d intended to post the details here, but in writing it, I discovered there was a lot going on, so you can read the full story here.
BACKGROUND: The Ukraine Peace Summit Ends With Agreement on What a Final Peace Will Look Like
There was discussion of Putin’s bizarre demand last Friday that Ukraine capitulate as a precondition to entering into negotiations. My sense is that Putin’s “do what I say or I’ll nuke you” schtick is beyond its shelf life.
BACKGROUND: Putin Delivers Ultimatum to Ukraine and the West
Second, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea and then Vietnam. During his visit to North Korea, he entered into a mutual defense treaty with North Korea.
Putin…
