A report revealed the U.S. diplomat to be advising Russia on how to get through to Trump, raising questions about his priorities and foreign business ties.

The war in Ukraine has been raging for almost four years; 11 if you start with Crimea’s annexation in 2014. So many predictions have proved wrong along the way: Russia will win within a week. Ukraine is winning, against the odds. Western sanctions will bleed Russia dry and force it to the negotiating table.