Europe, like the United States, before Pres Putin's unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country, had been working towards increasing ties with Russia and trying to lower the temperature.

The investment of Western corporations in Russia's economy was a big part of that. But also, the lowering of Europe's thought processes that more defense was needed against Russia.

Pres Putin's invasion changed all that.

Western corporations have been pulling out (many already have pulled out) of Russia.

And now Europe is upping its defensive military expenditures.

So, what has changed?

In a phrase, Pres Trump appears to have flipped sides, now aligning more with Pres Putin than our decades-long allies in Europe.

With Pres Trump, the United States no longer seems to stand for freedom, but for dictatorships and autocracy.