Intro

Imagine leaders of the greatest European nations, along with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sitting like contrite, obedient schoolchildren in front of Donald Trump, the imperial headmaster. What’s the first emotion that comes to mind: sympathy, amusement, pity, schadenfreude, a call to wake up to the new world? Chances are it will be a combination of all of the above, except sympathy. We can see at least one leader’s mind has no emotional muddle. Vladimir Putin sees this with pure contempt.