Video taking off 12x its usual first day

A summit without Ukraine? WSJ Opinion questions Trump's Russia approach

Potomac Watch's panel argues that sanctions relief and talks excluding Kyiv would strengthen Putin rather than secure peace.

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Wall Street Journal Opinion Story of October 20, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 52,550 views a day, 12 times a normal first day on this channel (4,466).

Donald Trump Moves Closer to an Alliance With Russia

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

2:00Melchior argues that sanctions relief strengthens Russia's war effort while communications cuts harm Ukrainian civilian defense.
4:09Zelenskyy says in an archival interview that Trump's deals with Putin could encourage further occupation.
11:15Gigot questions a reported Trump-Putin-Xi summit excluding Ukraine and draws a comparison with Yalta.
14:09The panel examines bipartisan congressional resistance to Trump's moves toward Moscow.
15:03The discussion shifts to French riots, economic frustration and political maneuvering before the presidential election.
26:31Melchior connects her Marseille reporting to economic pressures, assimilation and differing views of national identity.

Jillian Melchior sees more than a change of negotiating tactics. "Well, I think it's a real strategic shift away from being Ukraine's partner," she says on WSJ Opinion's Potomac Watch.

Hosted by Paul Gigot with Melchior and political economics columnist Joe Sternberg, "Donald Trump Moves Closer to an Alliance With Russia" examines who gains from the president's approach to ending the war. The episode drew roughly 23,000 views in seven hours, already well beyond the channel's usual full-day audience for regular videos.

Melchior argues that easing sanctions gives Russia more room to sustain its war effort while disruptions to Ukrainian communications put civilians at risk. Her central objection is the absence of a corresponding concession from Moscow: "Vladimir Putin has offered absolutely nothing. I can't name a single war-related concession that he's made here."

The question of who gets a seat at the table comes later. Gigot raises reports of a possible Trump-Putin-Xi summit without Ukraine, comparing that arrangement to the historic Yalta conference. Sternberg argues that Trump's desire for a quick settlement overlooks what Ukraine is fighting for. An archival Meet the Press excerpt gives Volodymyr Zelenskyy space to explain why he believes deals with Putin could encourage further occupation rather than peace.

The episode then turns to France. Beyond the images of riots and looting, the panel examines youth economic frustration, the state's authority and the political opening that Jean-Luc Mélenchon might seek ahead of the presidential election.

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