Foreign Policy Live Grading Trump’s Ukraine Diplomacy
Aug 19, 2025
Sergey Radchenko, a Cold War historian from Johns Hopkins, and Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a former CIA analyst and Russia expert, share insights on Trump’s recent diplomatic maneuvers in Ukraine. They analyze the implications of the Trump-Putin summit and its perceived pageantry versus real outcomes. The duo discusses the contrasting views within Russia about the war and critiques the oversimplification of the conflict by Trump's administration. They highlight the need for strategic U.S. responses amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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Pageantry Undermined U.S. Credibility
- The Alaska summit's pageantry shocked allies and weakened perceptions of U.S. reliability.
- Andrea Kendall-Taylor says applauding Putin undermined U.S. leadership and alliance trust.
Diplomacy Shifted Burden To Ukraine
- The summit shifted pressure onto Ukraine by framing it as the obstacle to peace.
- Andrea Kendall-Taylor argues this was a win for Russia and a setback for Europe and Ukraine.
Soviet Language Returns In Russia's Demands
- Putin reuses Soviet-era language about legitimate spheres to justify demands.
- Sergey Radchenko ties this to long-standing Kremlin aims like blocking Ukrainian NATO membership.
