The Duran Podcast Trump To Force Ukraine Peace on Europe - John Mearsheimer, Alexander Mercouris & Glenn Diesen
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Feb 15, 2025 
John Mearsheimer, a University of Chicago political science professor known for his realism insights, joins political analyst Alexander Mercouris. They discuss Trump's unexpected influence on the Ukraine conflict and its implications for European security. The conversation reveals the stagnant diplomacy among European leaders, highlighting the challenges they face in negotiating peace. They critique NATO's hesitance and underscore the need for pragmatic approaches to resolve the war, advocating for a reassessment of military strategies amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
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Russia's Incentives and Europe's Predicament
- Russia is incentivized to conquer more territory and weaken Ukraine due to distrust in the US and its mercurial nature.
- Europeans' subservience to the US has put them in a difficult position as the US shifts its focus.
Russia's Intentions and US Concessions
- The Russian defense ministry's language shift from "captured" to "liberated" suggests their intention to stay in newly acquired territories.
- Recognizing hard power realities, the US concessions acknowledge the war's trajectory.
Accepting Reality
- The US accepting Russia's terms isn't a betrayal of Ukraine, but a recognition of reality, offering the least bad option after a disastrous policy.
- The alternative to a bad deal now is a worse one later, given the lost war.