Russia, at the time part of the Soviet Union, was a victor in the Second World War. Among the costs: millions of lives. Today, Russia’s economy and military make it unlikely that it could achieve similar battlefield success. Yet, it is beyond question that she has scored a major strategic victory against the United States in the period leading up-to, and beyond, the 2016 Presidential campaign.

Recently, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, met with President Trump and Secretary-of-State Pompeo in Washington. During press conferences following their respective sessions with Lavrov,  “brief” discussions about Russian meddling in our elections—upcoming and past— were said to have occurred. While Lavrov agreed with Pompeo that election meddling was a topic of conversation, and although Trump asserted as much, Lavrov denied they were part of his exchange with the President.

When it comes to the Russians, Trump “sees no evil, speaks no evil, nor hears no evil.” Whether it is election interference, politicking against Western governments, or creating security concerns around the world, Putin has done what he can to weaken the United States. And, on these issues and many others, Trump has consistently sided with Russia. Why this is the case remains the obvious unanswered question.

In the past, when American banks refused to provide capital to businessman Donald Trump, he turned to Moscow financial institutions for support. How much he is in debt to them and, perhaps others, must await release of Trump’s financial history.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have consistently suggested that Ukraine was the real cyber-culprit in 2016. They now contend that this former Russian satellite may be interfering in the 2020 race. Of course, in both instances, no evidence of Ukranian interference exists; they are easy targets for Trump’s continuing campaign of dissimulation and disorder. Are the Russian and American leaders working together on this? Who knows? Yet, mutual successes are apparent: general economic turmoil and political disruption, severe strains in the Western alliance, and ignoring the climate crisis, are seemingly all part of Putin’s plans to  weaken the United States and its allies. Where Stalin and Khrushchev failed with military and political threats, Putin’s cyber- campaign is working. We seem unable to meet this challenge and, with the 2020 election fast approaching, Putin and Trump are well prepared to benefit from the riches produced by American neglect and Russian efforts and resources.

With impeachment in the House a reality, Trump’s acquittal in the Senate appears a foregone conclusion. Maybe we should all start learning Russian?