This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

President Trump announced yesterday that he will be meeting next month with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.  On the agenda so far we’re told are Ukraine and Syria. 

So should be Russia’s ominous nuclear build-up, including the impending deployment of hypersonic missiles against which we currently have no defense.  Ditto, Putin’s collaboration with China to supplant the dollar as the reserve currency of the world. And the Kremlin’s cyber attacks on others’ electric grids and its aggressive efforts to subvert Western democracies through covert action and influence operations.

Since Mr. Trump clearly seeks to improve relations with Putin and Russia, the temptation will be great to ignore such unpleasant topics and their strategic implications. But if relations are really to improve, he must be prepared, like Ronald Reagan at the Reykjavik summit, to confront the disagreeable and, if necessary, to walk away.    

This is Frank Gaffney.