Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
Arch Puddington, David J. Kramer: The end of Russia’s isolation
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak following a group photo of world leaders attending the D-Day 70th Anniversary ceremonies on June 6.
In his May 28 speech to the U.S. Military Academy, President Obama asserted that America’s “ability to shape world opinion helped isolate Russia right away” in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Yet Vladimir Putin has hardly appeared isolated recently: He has dined with French President Francois Hollande, met other G7 leaders, and participated in last week’s commemorations for the 70th anniversary of D-Day.