Russian stuff blowing up: Bridge collapse snarls Russian rail traffic

Key Points:

• Ukrainian officials described a "troubling" back-channel communication with the Trump administration as more harmful than helpful, a view supported by an American government official.
• Senior Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak frequently misunderstood American communication styles, interpreting polite responses from U.S. envoy Susie Wiles as concrete commitments, which he then reported to President Zelensky as achievements.
• These misinterpretations caused multiple problems that strained Ukraine's relationship with the Trump administration, including a significant fallout during a meeting in the Oval Office.
• Yermak was reportedly unaware of how disliked he was by some Americans, ignoring advice from U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to avoid the contentious Oval Office meeting.
• Amid corruption allegations, Yermak allegedly undermined Kellogg to build a closer relationship with his successor, Steve Witkoff, by ceasing communication with Kellogg despite his official role.