Undercurrents Trump can end the war - "Zelensky’s leverage is GONE" - Aaron Maté on Alaska summit
Aug 13, 2025
In a riveting discussion, Aaron Maté, a journalist from The Grayzone, analyzes the upcoming summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. He explores how Zelensky’s waning influence impacts peace prospects in Ukraine. With the American public fatigued by the ongoing conflict, Maté unpacks the complexities of Trump’s negotiation strategies against the backdrop of neoconservative resistance. He critiques historical diplomatic failures and highlights the challenges of achieving peace in a politically charged environment.
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Bolton's Role In Escalating Tensions
- John Bolton opposes diplomacy with perceived adversaries and actively sabotaged US-Russia arms agreements.
- Aaron Maté argues Bolton's actions helped create tensions that contributed to the Ukraine war.
Ukraine As A Proxy Project
- Maté says a bipartisan 'permanent war lobby' in Washington used Ukraine as a proxy to weaken Russia.
- He traces the proxy project back to 2014 and accuses US warhawks of sabotaging peace opportunities.
Missed Peace Opportunities
- Reasonable peace options existed earlier, including the Minsk Accords and Istanbul talks, according to Maté.
- He claims Western leaders, notably Biden and Johnson, blocked Istanbul 2022 negotiations and prolonged the war.