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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump dawdles on aid, sanctions as Ukraine turns to Europe for help
The diplomatic stalemate followed an offensive by Russia on key Ukrainian territory. That, in turn, was followed by a Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up And so it goes. Advertisement President Trump, who vowed during his campaign to end the bloody conflict on Advertisement The latter, of course, actually do have a chance to move the needle — even a handful of Republican leaders like 'It's clear to me — and I think it's becoming clear to President Trump — that the Russians are playing games,' Graham told But the bill Graham is proposing — which now has Thus the threat — new sanctions on Russia and tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, and uranium — remains just a threat. 'He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,' But what has the dealmaker-in-chief done about that? Arms shipments to Ukraine Ukraine is particularly in need of more Patriot missiles and launchers for its air defense system. Secretary of State Yes, a nation that was once considered the greatest military power in the world is now asking others to pass the hat for Ukraine military assistance. Advertisement The Europeans, being on the front lines of the horror that Putin has unleashed on Ukraine, have indeed stepped up — both for Ukraine and in taking seriously their own need for self-defense. British Prime Minister He cited 'war in Europe, new nuclear risks, daily cyberattacks,' and 'growing Russian aggression,' in British waters and skies. NATO Secretary General Ukraine's needs are expected to be high on the agenda for the NATO summit in the Hague at the end of June, he assured, 'making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight, to be able to bring this terrible Russian war of aggression against Ukraine to an end which has to be lasting, which has to be durable.' There was a time when those would be the words, the enduring message, coming from the White House — a message of peace through strength and engagement with allies. Trump has been all about making America great again — or so he says. But America can not stand proudly on the world stage if it stands alone, abandoning allies and allegiances that go back decades. Advertisement Putin has made himself and his unbridled ambitions abundantly clear. He isn't crazy, he's simply ruthless. Trump can continue to allow Putin to play him like a well-tuned Stradivarius or he can use the tools at his disposal — sanctions on Russia, tariffs on nations that buy energy from Russia, and the release of military aid to Ukraine — and actually show he means business this time. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Time for Fernandes Anderson to do the ‘right thing'
Advertisement And she remains a source of embarrassment to at least some of her council colleagues, who have attempted to encourage her departure with a Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up After all, what kind of 'credibility' is there for a councilor who At the time of Fernandes Anderson's Advertisement Under a 2012 Fernandes Anderson's sentencing is set for Meanwhile, Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn have tried repeatedly to have council members at least pass a resolution expressing their own ethical concerns about Fernandes Anderson's continued presence on the council. But they can't even get a vote on the matter. 'The resolution I filed with Councilor Flynn isn't about forcing anyone out — it's about taking a stand,' Why indeed. There is something to be said for public shaming, which is essentially what Murphy and Flynn are proposing. And if Fernandes Anderson needs a reminder of just how egregious her conduct was and why her presence on the council ought to be a continuing source of embarrassment to all, there was the rather candid assessment offered by 'Councilor Fernandes Anderson abused her position of trust for personal gain and turned a public checkbook into her own private slush fund. Her constituents deserve better than this. They deserve a city representative who respects the role of public service and does not use the power and position to line her own pockets.' Advertisement It's time for Fernandes Anderson to do the right thing. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
Boston Globe
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
An American pope, for a time of American crisis
Leo's election is an incredible milestone for American Catholics, whose history in this country began as an oppressed minority. And the Catholic Church, which thinks globally and across centuries, probably did not factor the politics of his home country into his appointment. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Still, when the news broke, Americans scrambled for clues as to where this US citizen stood on Trump — and, by implication, how he might use the world's ultimate bully pulpit to influence his home country and its leadership. Advertisement Nobody should be expecting the pope to lead the resistance to Trump. For that matter, we wouldn't want a religious leader, of any stripe, playing that role in a diverse country like the United States. Still, it will matter what Leo says. It will matter how and when an American pope talks about America's politics, policies, and inevitably important role in the world. It will matter where, when, and how forcefully he deploys the church's moral authority. Advertisement And it will matter how he responds to the Trump administration's courtship of Catholic voters and attempts to co-opt Catholic doctrine to justify its immigration policies. When the president harasses or scapegoats immigrants, Leo can push back, An early sampling of his X posts suggests he would do just that. Just a few weeks ago, then Archbishop Prevost called Vance 'wrong' in He also made or circulated posts in favor of immigration reform, gun control, and COVID-19 vaccines, and called on the church 'to reject racism' after the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Those digital breadcrumbs might seem to place him on the American left, but that would almost certainly be wrong. Leo is very unlikely to be a progressive, in the modern American political sense of the word. He can be expected to maintain the church's opposition to abortion and gay marriage, for instance. In a 2012 speech, he decried the 'homosexual lifestyle.' But hopefully, as an American, he understands the gravity of the moment in his home country and won't allow areas where the church agrees with Trump to become excuses to ignore the rest. And simply by sticking to its own principles — the ones conservatives hate, and the ones liberals hate — the pope can demonstrate to other Americans how to remain independent at a time when so much of politics has descended into tribalism. Advertisement Though we'll never know what happened inside the Sistine Chapel before the white smoke billowed out of the chimney, perhaps the cardinals chose Leo chosen because he was an American, not despite it. Maybe the logic behind his selection was that no one was better poised to handle the church's response to an off-the-rails American administration than a fellow American. If so, it's another reason to wish for Leo's success. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
Boston Globe
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Keeping the spirit of the Marathon alive every day — one step at a time
Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up Most of all, however, this is a time when from Hopkinton to Boston this community comes together to welcome the stranger into its midst — as it has done now for 129 years. And if there is ever a year to celebrate an event that brings together runners from all Advertisement There are no runners from red or blue states on marathon day. They're just runners. Today some will sport their nation's flags on their running singlets, but runners from Advertisement And while hope springs eternal that once again an American runner will recapture the glory days of Bill Rogers and Joan Benoit Samuelson, champions from Kenya and Ethiopia have been welcomed just as warmly, teaching us along the way lessons in humility, hard work, and being gracious winners. Yes, the Boston Marathon has indeed changed over the years — growing in size and numbers — reaching more than 30,000 expected in the field this year. And growing in so many ways. There was a time when not only were women not welcomed but its first official female finisher, The race — its runners and its fans — have come a long way since 1967. This is the third year the race will include nonbinary entrants — 76 have registered. This year also marks the 50th year of wheelchair racing in Boston. There is something incredibly special about the diversity of this field and the ease with which it is now welcomed on marathon day — this grand and glorious hodgepodge of races and nationalities, genders and abilities that gather for this one day, for this one moment. Nothing can diminish this day of celebration. But since 2013 it has also become a moment tempered by memory, a moment to remember the horror of a terrorist bombing at the Marathon finish line that took lives and changed lives forever. But from the pain of that loss came a new appreciation of the strength and resilience of this community too. Advertisement Or as former p And indeed Boston has chosen love — and a celebration of life. It has chosen to plant daffodils and mark the day with a day of service to the community. Obama predicted then that 'our fidelity to our way of life — to our free and open society — will only grow stronger.' Today that way of life is being tested as never before — at our universities, our hospitals, in our courts, and at our borders. But there's another lesson we can take from marathoning — at least for all but the most elite runners. It's about putting one foot in front of the other — and never, ever giving up. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
Boston Globe
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump's Oval Office tantrum won't end Ukraine war
Advertisement Indeed, the one thing that Trump did manage to accomplish when he berated Zelensky for his alleged lack of gratitude toward the United States is to roust European leaders, who quickly jumped to Zelensky's defense, promising a Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up The current phase of the war started three years ago when President Vladimir Putin of Russia sent troops into neighboring Ukraine in a bald effort to seize territory by military force. Ukraine fought back with impressive tenacity, aided by the United States and other Western powers, and the conflict is now at something like a stalemate. A cease-fire would be a first step toward a diplomatic resolution. The question is what, exactly, it would look like, and what would happen next. Macron has said he doesn't anticipate sending any peacekeeping troops to Ukraine unless and until a cease-fire deal has been negotiated and in operation for a month. 'The question is how we use this time to try and obtain an accessible truce, with negotiations that will take several weeks and then, once peace has been signed, a deployment,' Advertisement 'We want peace,' Macron said. 'We don't want it at any price, without guarantees.' One thing is clear, though — that any meaningful Ukraine deal will require at least the grudging participation of the United States. And Trump was sadly on point when Europe's offer of financial aid — London has just lent Ukraine about Trump does want a deal. He needs a deal. He said 'I know Zelensky very well and I know Putin very well. I have a good relationship and … they respect me.' If Trump truly wants to focus on China — and he should — he needs to get the war in Ukraine off his plate. And get it off his plate in a way that doesn't needlessly antagonize European allies he presumably wants on his side when it comes to China, Iran, and any number of other issues. Putin needs a deal too. Some Advertisement The issue now is, as Zelensky attempted to explain to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, how to strike and police a cease-fire deal with a man who can't be trusted to abide by a deal — who has a long history of violating every deal he has ever signed, including, as Zelensky has noted, one on the exchange of prisoners with Ukraine. Enforcement will be the key to a secure and just cease-fire agreement, leading to a longer term peace agreement — and if Europe can sign on for part of that heavy lift, so much the better. Zelensky 'We are grateful for all the support we have received from the United States,' Zelensky said. 'There hasn't been a single day when we haven't felt grateful.' If Trump is looking for an olive branch, he has it. Bullying and boorishness won't advance the cause of peace — or that mineral deal he still covets. It's time for the diplomats to take over. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
