Melania Trump sent a private letter to Vladimir Putin in which she appeared to urge him to end the war to protect children.

It’s possible Trump has good reason to believe Putin is ready to deal; we’re not privy to the behind-the-scenes machinations and we still don’t know what precisely prompted this meeting. But by Trump’s new standards for dealing with Putin, words aren’t supposed to be trusted; it’s action to back it up that’s required.

Trump and Putin will meet for the seventh time in Alaska. Trump left the previous five meetings with little to show for it.

President Trump gave President Vladimir Putin a warm public reception, effectively ending his diplomatic isolation over the past three years for his invasion of Ukraine. But Mr. Putin did not agree to stop the war.