There are many reasons to regret President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. But a big reason is that the call greatly damaged Trump’s otherwise stellar record on Ukraine.

Between Jan. 20, 2017, and July 25, 2019, Trump’s support for Ukraine was extensive, robust, and positively distinguished from that of former President Barack Obama — at least the known knowns of Trump’s policy, that is. In contrast, the July 25 call appears to have involved a quid pro quo threat to withhold appropriated aid to Ukraine in lieu of Zelensky’s agreement to find dirt on Joe Biden.