Confronting the West.

Problems for Putin.

The Orthodox Church and the Israeli backpacker.

Putin may be willing to allow Bashar al-Assad to reign over a failed state.

Escalation between Turkey and Syria.

To ex-KGB officers, Jews are extremely powerful.

Putin visits Yad Vashem.

A backpacker held hostage in exchange for a hacker.

The moral blindness of condemning Jerusalem for its relations with Moscow.

Useful idiot.

But can Russia uphold its promises?

Putin can afford to lie to America, but he can’t control Syria without Iranian support.

A no-fly/no-drive zone.

Don’t trade Crimea for empty promises.