The Brian Lehrer Show Trump/Putin Summit Preview
Aug 14, 2025
Jonathan Lemire, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC and writer for The Atlantic, explores the high-stakes Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. He discusses the troubling absence of Ukraine from negotiations and the potential ramifications for its sovereignty. Lemire highlights the urgency amid rising military aggression and examines the impact of sanctions on Russia post-invasion. The conversation delves into the complexities of diplomatic interactions, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding Trump's approach to Putin's regime, leaving listeners with lingering questions about international accountability.
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Why Putin Chose To Negotiate Now
- Russia increased bombardment but made limited summer territorial gains despite large missile and drone attacks.
- Putin's partial battlefield slowdown and recent modest breakthroughs explain his readiness to talk now.
Trump's Tough Talk Opened The Door
- Trump has recently shifted to a tougher rhetorical stance toward Putin driven by his desire for a ceasefire.
- That tougher posture, plus sanctions talk, helped prompt Kremlin back-channel willingness to meet.
Back Channel Through A Trump Ally
- Steve Witkoff, a real estate executive and Trump ally, served as a back-channel envoy between Moscow and the White House.
- Those private meetings signaled Russia's willingness to talk and sped the summit into being within about a week.
