The US-Russia summit lets Putin get back to the top table of international diplomacy and thumb his nose at critics. Here’s what else he stands to gain.

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska.

President Trump has largely held back from harsh criticism of Vladimir V. Putin personally, despite recent complaints about Russian intransigence in ending the war in Ukraine.