Anderson Cooper 360 Trump: If Ceasefire Doesn't Happen, "I Just Back Away"
May 20, 2025
Caitlin Collins, CNN's White House Correspondent, and Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, dive deep into the implications of President Trump's shifting stance on Ukraine's peace process. They discuss high-stakes conversations with leaders like Putin and Zelensky, highlighting the challenges of negotiations. Caitlin sheds light on the emotional reunion of an Israeli-American family after captivity, while Fareed brings context to political narratives and health crises, including a shocking cancer diagnosis for a former president.
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Trump Signals Possible Withdrawal
- President Trump is signaling he might back away if peace talks don't make progress.
- His optimism about Putin wanting peace contrasts with the reality of ongoing conflict.
Putin's Root Cause Rationalization
- Putin claims eliminating root causes involves rejecting Ukraine's sovereignty.
- Russia justifies war by denying Ukraine's right to choose allies and partners.
Trump's Peace Process Approach
- Trump believes Putin wants peace and could end the war, but big egos block progress.
- Trump’s approach depends on direct talks; if no success, he may step aside.