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ABC News Daily

What Trump’s call with Putin means for the war

Feb 13, 2025
Rajan Menon, a professor emeritus of international relations at the City College of New York and a senior research scholar at Columbia University, dives into the complexities of Trump's recent call with Putin about the Ukraine war. He explores the risk of sidelining Ukraine in negotiations and questions Trump's history with strongman leaders. Menon discusses Ukraine's NATO aspirations, the geopolitical intricacies at play, and how Trump's diplomacy might shape a tenuous peace in the region amidst ongoing tensions.
16:19

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Trump's direct engagement with Putin in peace negotiations raises concerns about sidelining Ukraine and altering territorial expectations.
  • The potential deployment of a robust international peacekeeping force in Ukraine highlights the complexities of ensuring stability and defining mission objectives.

Deep dives

Trump's Approach to Negotiations in Ukraine

Donald Trump has initiated talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. His approach appears to prioritize dialogue with Putin, raising concerns about potential sidelining of Ukraine in the negotiations. Trump's belief is that by engaging directly with the aggressor, a peace agreement can be reached, which reflects his longstanding view that the conflict is primarily European rather than American. This strategy highlights the underlying power dynamics, suggesting that Ukraine's fate may hinge on discussions primarily focused on the perspectives of Russia and the United States.

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