Christopher Steele: Putin Played Trump as a 'Complete Sucker'

Putin's Strategic Gains from the Summit

• 🎯 Vladimir Putin achieved most of his objectives from the meeting, including avoiding secondary sanctions on countries trading oil with Russia and preventing Ukraine from directly negotiating.
• 📈 The meeting is seen as bolstering Putin's position, strengthening his autocracy, and encouraging support from the "global south" who may now "cuddle up" to Russia.
• ⚠️ The postponement of sanctions against Russia, particularly secondary sanctions on countries like China, Turkey, and India, is highlighted as a significant gain for Putin.

Shifting Stance on Ceasefire and Peace

• 🗣️ Putin has reportedly persuaded Trump to shift from prioritizing a ceasefire to discussing a direct peace settlement, aligning with Moscow's agenda.
• 🧩 This shift is viewed as a potential sticking point that could create divisions within NATO and between Europe and America.
• ⏳ Russia's objective is to continue making incremental progress on the battlefield while peace settlements are negotiated, as a full ceasefire would halt their advances.

Broader Reset of US-Russia Relations

• 🤝 The appointment of an envoy to Moscow suggests a broader reset of the US-Russia relationship, focusing on cooperation in areas beyond Ukraine, such as hydrocarbons.
• 🌍 The overall objective may be to "put Ukraine to bed" and focus on other shared interests, including business-related matters.

Trump's View on 'Russia Hoax' and Security Protocols

• 🤥 Trump continues to refer to the "Russia Russia Russia hoax" as a reason for difficulties in US-Russia relations, a claim Steele dismisses as an excuse and conspiracy theory.
• 🔍 Steele asserts that the Mueller investigation concluded Russia intervened in the 2016 election to assist Trump, contradicting Trump's narrative.
• 🚨 Trump's willingness to get into Putin's "The Beast" (US presidential car) is seen as a disregard for security protocols, allowing Putin to be treated as an equal despite being an "indicted war criminal."
• ⚠️ This unorthodox behavior, along with sharing sensitive information on commercial apps, indicates a pattern of not following security protocols, creating nightmares for security personnel.