Whether Vice President Harris or former President Trump is elected America’s next president, their debate last week surely increased the sense of vulnerability surrounding two of America’s most threatened friends and quasi-allies: Ukraine and Taiwan. Foreign policy was not a major focus of the discussion, but what was said — and left unsaid — by the candidates was cause for concern.

On Ukraine, Trump noted the historical connection between President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, which Harris explicitly supported, and Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch his second invasion of Ukraine. “These people did the worst withdrawal and in my opinion the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country,” said the former president. “That's why Russia attacked Ukraine. Because they saw how incompetent she and her boss are.”

As for what to do about Ukraine now, Trump repeated his usual refrain: “I'll get the war with Ukraine and Russia ended. If I'm president-elect, I'll get it done before even becoming president.” In the past, he has said he will do it within 24 hours. Either compressed schedule suggests he will be giving ultimatums to one party or the other to make territorial or sovereignty concessions.

But the only leader in the conflict that Washington has any real leverage over is........

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