It’s a move that is well overdue for Mr. Trump, whose long refusal to criticize Mr. Putin and hesitancy to act against Russia’s malign behavior have raised suspicions that Moscow knows secrets it could use to blackmail the American president. Monday’s development offers some hope that Mr. Trump may finally be forced to deal with the threat that Mr. Putin poses to the United States and its Western allies. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. View all New York Times newsletters. It appears to be getting more difficult for Mr. Trump to remain passive in the face of Russian aggression.

Source: New York Times March 26, 2018 23:45 UTC