Putin gets to do what he wants in the Old.

AI Overview
During his 2017 meeting with Putin at the G20 in Hamburg, President Trump reportedly took his interpreter's notes and instructed her not to discuss the private conversation with anyone, even other U.S. officials, leading to controversy and investigations, as the interpreter (Marina Gross) was one of the few who knew the details, and no official record was made, fueling secrecy concerns about Trump's dealings with Russia.
Key Details of the Incident
When: July 2017, at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, during a one-on-one meeting.
Trump's Actions: He reportedly confiscated the interpreter's notes and told her not to share anything about the discussion.
Interpreter's Role: Marina Gross, one of the few present, was bound by ethics but faced pressure to reveal details, which she refused, according to reports.
Lack of Record: This resulted in no comprehensive U.S. record of the meeting, unlike typical diplomatic engagements.
Aftermath: Lawsuits were filed to compel the administration to preserve notes, and congressional investigations were launched, with Democrats seeking testimony from the interpreter.
Context
This event was part of a pattern where Trump held highly secretive meetings with Putin, often with only interpreters present, leading to accusations that he was trying to hide the substance of their discussions from his own administration and Congress. [Emphasis my own]

I originally thought this up as a gag, that Putin and Trump had a verbal agreement to not interfere in each others' operations in their own hemispheres. But the longer I stare at this the more it appears that this is the theory behind recent geopolitical events that best fits the facts.

This conclusion is outrageous, but it becomes increasingly more plausible.

The price we pay for our new American Empire: Leaving Europe, and particularly the old NATO and Warsaw Pact states, to deal with the Russians without our help.

Too bad about Ukraine, eh? What happens there next is going to be the rehearsal for European history for decades to come.

Meanwhile, China sits back and watches...