I think Witkoff is focused on getting a deal at any price (for Ukraine). But the State Dept and NSC still exist. Rubio was probably blindsided by the proposal and has enough self-respect remaining to work out something less one-sided. How much weight he carries inside the admin is hard to judge.

Was thinking the same thing. Probably not.

At least Munich had a strategic rationale based on Anglo-French weakness and need for time to rearm in the face of immediate escalation to a Europe-wide war.

The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.

It's even worse. The US is making a profit on the war right now, and apparently they are willing to give up that in order to force through this Munich thing.

At least Munich had a strategic rationale based on Anglo-French weakness and need for time to rearm in the face of immediate escalation to a Europe-wide war.

The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.

I'd translate "resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation" [presumably between NATO and Russia?] as NATO steps back from Russia's borders and the U.S. steps back from NATO so Russia can escalate....

This is also a straightforward dynamic in Moscow. Negotiations are ~ free to engage with until an agreement is reached, and people inevitably read into them more than is there in a way they can shape. They will *always* engage in negotiations, even if privately under no expectation they are close

I wrote to Garber: I ask you to take immediate action to sever Harvard's ties to Larry Summers. His conduct violates every norm of decency and faculty conduct imaginable. And it is all there in black and white. For the sake of his students and mentees, past, present and future, please do not delay.