Leaked U.S.-Russia Call Sets Off Global Game of Clue: Who Did It—And Why?

The Americans and Europeans are coming at this from two different angles. Europe sees Russia rearming, and are worried about anything that allows Russia to regroup, learn lessons and up their defense complex to have another go at Ukraine or test NATO boundaries. The Americans are thinking much more short-term—get the peace process over the line, get a ceasefire, get Ukraine back on its feet and cobble together some sort of cold peace for another year or two." No matter who leaked the conversation, it added to a sense of chaos and uncertainty around the war and diplomacy that will likely be fine with Russia, Ferris said. “This is a fantastic place for the Russians to be. They need to do very little here. All their responses show they don’t feel much need to hurry things along."