Trump’s "Deadline" to Putin:

Trump vaguely set a two-week deadline to assess whether Putin is genuinely interested in ending the war in Ukraine. The speaker is skeptical about Trump’s track record with deadlines and his neutrality in this conflict.

Analysis from Larry Johnson (ex-CIA analyst):

Western Media Bias: Johnson criticizes Western media for presenting a one-sided narrative that paints Russia as the sole aggressor while ignoring Ukraine’s missile and drone attacks on Russian territory.

Putin's Peace Terms: Putin is open to a negotiated settlement but only on his terms:

Ukraine must withdraw from all territories Russia claims (and possibly more in the future).

Ukraine must stay out of NATO, and NATO must stop expanding eastward.

Protection for Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.

Escalating Demands: Putin's conditions are hardening, not softening. He's expanding territorial demands beyond those annexed in 2022.

No Western Leverage: Johnson asserts that the West has no leverage over Putin and that Russia has lost trust in Western negotiations.

Trump’s Role: Johnson criticizes Trump’s claim of neutrality, noting he contributed to the conflict by sending weapons to Ukraine and supporting militarization.

Ukraine’s Position: Zelensky has rejected any withdrawal from currently held Ukrainian territories, making Putin’s conditions non-starters. Johnson argues that Ukraine doesn’t genuinely want peace if they refuse those terms.

Historical Context: Johnson traces the roots of the conflict to NATO expansion and U.S. support for insurgents against Russia starting in the 1990s. He suggests Putin has patiently prepared for this confrontation.

Military Activity: Johnson notes a large Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine on May 24–25 was retaliation for Ukraine launching over 1,400 drones at Moscow in the prior week.

Civilian Casualties: He claims the low number of civilian casualties from Russian strikes suggests they are not targeting civilians, unlike Ukraine.

Tone and Perspective:

The discussion is heavily critical of the U.S., NATO, and Ukraine.

It portrays Russia as reactive rather than aggressive.

The speaker emphasizes underreported facts from the Russian perspective.

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#333 Jen Hartsock - Being Resilient, and 3 Major Tenants of Leadership