Trump Needs a Win-Win Deal. Putin Is a Win-Lose Guy

President-elect Donald Trump is correct that he has a huge opportunity to improve relations with Russia. Under President Obama, they have soured to the point where Russia interfered in the presidential election and Russian jets routinely buzz U.S. Navy ships. Americans’ feelings toward Russia are the coldest in 30 years, according to a survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Trump could change all that by concluding a deal that committed Russia to stopping cyberwarfare, cooperating on fighting ISIS, getting tougher on Iran over its nuclear weapons program, and ending the deployment of intermediate-range nuclear missiles that threaten Europe.

In business terminology, a deal that met U.S. objectives such as those, in return for the lifting of sanctions on Russia and other concessions, would be a win-win. It would be a natural culmination of Trump’s extensive dealings with wealthy Russians as investors and customers. “The Russian market is attracted to me,” he once said.