Monday open thread: MVP Kamala Harris in Munich

Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to the Munich Security Conference last week, and from all accounts hit it out of the park, regardless of what "one official" had to say. To begin the week, let's take a look at what she's done.

MVP Kamala Harris is the real deal. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3W21QcSBe0

— THEE Woodsy Owl 🦉 (@hotdishpotluck) February 20, 2022

Good meeting with @VP Kamala Harris; the 🇪🇺🇺🇸 are closer than ever.

There is strong transatlantic unity working for a diplomatic solution.

But if Russia chooses war, we will together respond with robust financial and economic sanctions. pic.twitter.com/9l91pVZwfX

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 19, 2022

Great exchange with @VP Kamala Harris at #MSC2022. The relationship between Greece and the United States is at its best level in our long history of friendship and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/EFXofim3fn

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) February 19, 2022

And, for a bit of fun:

Obviously, no one loves MVP Harris. /snark

Let's get this week started! We have much to do.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

White House: “President Biden accepted in principle a meeting with President Putin following” this week’s Blinken-Lavrov meeting “if an invasion hasn’t happened. We are always ready for diplomacy.“ pic.twitter.com/F9ryktRVBZ

— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) February 21, 2022

Now, why did Putin blink? I think two reasons:

1. I do believe Vice President Harris' visit to Europe to strengthen Western resolve impacted his calculations.
2. But more than that, Putin suspects that he has a mole, or moles, in his government. US intelligence has been anticipating all Russian moves. Yesterday, Pres. Biden said he knew Putin had given the go-order to his generals. That must have spooked him ten ways to Sunday. Thus, this ploy to draw down.

Happy Monday, everyone!