Melania Trump wrote Putin a letter — which Trump delivered at their summit — urging him to protect children. But that moniker better describes Trump’s Russia stance: He repeatedly sets up a face-off against Putin, and invariably face-plants. AdvertisementFor weeks ahead of the August summit, Trump threatened “extreme consequences” if Russia didn’t agree to a cease-fire. Then, as quickly as U.S. soldiers rolled out the red carpet for Putin, Trump rolled up his cease-fire talk. There’s mockery indeed in Moscow, where politicians and state-run media continue to celebrate Putin as the summit winner.