FT News Briefing cover image

FT News Briefing

Swamp Notes: Trump ices Europe out of Ukraine peace plan

Feb 15, 2025
Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for the Financial Times, joins the discussion on Trump’s recent call with Putin and its implications for Ukraine. He explores the high stakes of Trump's peace strategy and the potential backlash from Ukraine and Europe. Seddon delves into Russia’s reactions to diplomatic gestures, signaling possible concessions, while examining Ukraine's steadfastness in the face of Russian demands. The conversation also highlights Europe’s shifting defense strategies amid U.S. policy changes, raising critical questions about regional security.
13:30

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Trump's unilateral approach to peace talks with Putin dismisses Ukrainian sovereignty, alarming European allies about their own security and future negotiations.
  • The podcast highlights Europe's urgent need to enhance defense capabilities as reliance on U.S. protection diminishes amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Deep dives

Trump's Call with Putin and Its Implications

Donald Trump's recent 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding Ukraine. During the conversation, Trump dismissed the existing Western approach, which emphasized cooperation with Ukraine and its allies, in favor of a more unilateral stance. This development indicates a potential pivot towards negotiating a peace deal that may favor Russian interests while sidelining Ukraine's input altogether. Essentially, Trump is suggesting that any agreement would be presented to Ukraine as a fait accompli, indicating a troubling disregard for Ukrainian sovereignty and the geopolitical complexities involved.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode