The DSR Network This Year We're Thankful for Courage and Resistance
Nov 26, 2025
Max Boot, a foreign policy analyst and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins law professor Rosa Brooks for a lively discussion. They dissect the complexities of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine. Boot laments the erosion of trust among allies, while Brooks highlights the courage of Ukrainians and domestic resistance efforts in the U.S. Their dialogue explores the silver linings amidst chaos, emphasizing gratitude for those who stand firm in defending democracy and navigating through turbulent times.
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Chaotic Ukraine Diplomacy Harms Credibility
- The Trump administration's Ukraine diplomacy is described as chaotic, contradictory, and counterproductive.
- That dysfunction weakens U.S. credibility and plays into Kremlin objectives by sowing doubt among allies and Ukraine.
Leaked Peace Plan Fueled Alarm
- A leaked 28-point peace plan reportedly favored Russia and caused alarm at Halifax because it granted concessions Ukraine hadn't agreed to.
- The document's opaque origins and apparent benefit to Moscow triggered swift pushback and confusion among U.S. officials.
Envoy's Call Echoed Kremlin Playbook
- Steve Witkoff's leaked call advising a Russian aide on how to sway Trump showed U.S. envoys acting like Kremlin allies.
- That behavior reinforced perceptions of U.S. inconsistency and damaged efforts to present a unified, credible negotiating stance.
