When Russian President Vladimir Putin approved what U.S. authorities saywas a GRU operation to meddle in the 2016 election, he undoubtedly expected it to deal a death blow to U.S.-Russian relations. U.S. intelligence would become aware of it at some point; that’s the risk of conducting an intelligence operation on this scale. The American people would surely be outraged. As in the past, both parties would unite to confront Russia. The questions that must have run through his mind: What do I have to lose? Are Russian interests fulfilled by attempting to reset this broken relationship with the Americans, or is our cause advanced by going on the offensive? For the weaker party — a country facing encroachment by NATO — isn’t offense the best defense?
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Rolf Mowatt-Larssen: Russia already gave up on ‘normal relations’ with the US
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) during a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16.
