Originally Posted by MaxQ

I follow that.

I am skeptical of the idea that from the perspective of this administration, providing aid to Ukraine was an objective of this weapons sale. While obviously it was for the European nations, my suspicions are that this administration would have happily sold these weapons to any country except maybe Iran. OK maybe North Korea. The idea of helping Ukraine simply isn't on their radar.

It is an assertion I can't prove, but Trump's sympathies and instincts regarding Russia align with Paul Manafort's. And they have for over 40 years.