Report Details Web of Russian Influence Within Trump's Inner Circle

By Megan Twohey and Scott Shane, The New York Times

21 February 17

This is a long detailed piece. It warrants a careful read.

The report chronicles an extensive web of Russian influences among key players of Donald Trump's inner circle. It also puts a spotlight on what appears to be a plan to undermine the government of U.S., western friendly Ukrainian President Petro O. Poroshenko and lay the groundwork for a potential rise to power by a loyalist of Russian president Vladimir Putin, Andrii V. Artemenko.


While the argument can be made that the U.S. has no more right to dominate the political affairs of Ukraine than Russia, if the Trump administration is doing or does anything to affect the rise of a Russian backed head of state there, it would be a direct affront to all established American and European security policies. On a seismic scale.

week before Michael T. Flynn resigned as national security adviser, a sealed proposal was hand-delivered to his office, outlining a way for President Trump to lift sanctions against Russia.

Mr. Flynn is gone, having been caught lying about his own discussion of sanctions with the Russian ambassador. But the proposal, a peace plan for Ukraine and Russia, remains, along with those pushing it: Michael D. Cohen, the president’s personal lawyer, who delivered the document; Felix H. Sater, a business associate who helped Mr. Trump scout deals in Russia; and a Ukrainian lawmaker trying to rise in a political opposition movement shaped in part by Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort.

At a time when Mr. Trump’s ties to Russia, and the people connected to him, are under heightened scrutiny — with investigations by American intelligence agencies, the F.B.I. and Congress — some of his associates remain willing and eager to wade into Russia-related efforts behind the scenes.

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