The US used to produce experts on Soviet and Russian affairs like Jack Matlock. Today we get the likes of Michael McFaul. The decline of popular interest in Russian-area studies, combined with intellectual laziness on the part of the average US.
Emmanuel Macron (pictured) had a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, sitting at least ten feet away from the Russian leader with the help of a massive table.
Note: this w/u is 100% factual. Twenty years ago humanity had one of its closest calls with death, but most people are blissfully ignorant about that. I.