Neil MacFarquhar in NYT: ‘President Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir V. Putin, both resist the idea that ostensibly weaker powers fought them to a stalemate, with the two leaders leaning on negotiations to win the capitulation that they failed to secure in battle.’

And: ‘American and Iranian officials now say a peace deal with Iran could be at hand. But it appears that it will initially consist of a framework for negotiations that will push the thorniest issues, like Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief, down the road.’

As well: ‘Ultimately, analysts said, the lack of a resolution makes both the United States and Russia appear weak, and could hasten a more decentralized international order.’

According to this article, approximately 350,000 Russians soldiers have been killed in war a that didn’t achieve anything.

The decentralized world order is coming. What remains to be determined is the true winners.

(a sf 2155)