Putin tests Trump’s hopes for a Russia reset

Published September 21, 2026 5:00am ET



Russian President Vladimir Putin is escalating his war against the West. Putin is directly targeting the United States itself, not just U.S. allies. The Russian dictator is probing for weakness, and America must respond.

To restore deterrence and prevent a wider war against the West, the Trump administration must finally end its delusional thinking that commercial ventures will sate Putin’s imperial ambitions or influence him to adopt a more moderate course.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.