Judging Freedom Dr. Gilbert Doctorow : Are US/Russian Negotiations a Waste of Time?
Dec 3, 2025
Dr. Gilbert Doctorow, a foreign policy analyst with a focus on Russia and Europe, shares profound insights on US–Russian negotiations. He delves into Trump's strategy to separate Russia from China, assessing its long-term implications. The conversation also highlights Putin's warning to Europe and the contrasting approaches in the Ukraine conflict. Doctorow debates the feasibility of a swift military victory versus prolonged conflict, emphasizing the humanitarian angles. He further discusses Europe's ambitious financial strategies to support Ukraine, painting a complex geopolitical picture.
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Trump's Russia Strategy Is About Decoupling
- Donald Trump aims to separate Russia from China to reduce strategic pressure on the U.S. and roll back NATO encirclement near Russian borders.
- Gilbert Doctorow says that Trump's Russia policy is driven by that overriding geopolitical priority rather than other regional issues.
Kushner's Presence Signals Internal Control
- Jared Kushner (Witkoff) attended Geneva talks as Trump's close watcher, undermining Secretary of State Marco Rubio's influence.
- Doctorow suggests Kushner's presence signals Trump's intent to keep Rubio from sabotaging the peace plan with Russia.
Putin's Warning Hints At Nuclear Threshold
- Putin warned Europe that a war with NATO would be short and fought differently than in Ukraine, implying nuclear escalation.
- Doctorow interprets the shift as Russia signaling readiness to use strategic weapons if NATO provokes a wider conflict.