As midterms near and Putin beckons, Trump embraces big-power diplomacy

What happened: President Donald Trump is embracing Vladimir Putin and big-power diplomacy as midterms approach. White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Saint Petersburg with a proposal for three-way peace talks on Ukraine; the Kremlin accepted in principle at a lower, technical level. Why it matters: Critics, including John Herbst and Charles Kupchan, warn Trump could accept a new Yalta-style deal that sidelines Ukraine and allies. European leaders reacted with shock to the summit proposal.

President Donald Trump is embracing Vladimir Putin and big-power diplomacy as midterms approach. White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Saint Petersburg with a proposal for three-way peace talks on Ukraine; the Kremlin accepted in principle at a lower, technical level.

Critics, including John Herbst and Charles Kupchan, warn Trump could accept a new Yalta-style deal that sidelines Ukraine and allies. European leaders reacted with shock to the summit proposal.