The Powers That Be: Daily Is Trump Abandoning Ukraine?
6 snips
Oct 15, 2026 
Julia Ioffe, a journalist and political analyst focused on Russia, Ukraine, and U.S. foreign policy, joins Peter to explore Trump’s proposed Russian diesel deal. They discuss Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, Putin’s escalating attacks, shifting intelligence support, and the political stakes before the midterms. The deal’s impact on gas prices, Russia’s finances, and bipartisan criticism also take center stage.
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Putin Escalates Attacks After Energy Strikes
- Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy facilities triggered a retaliatory campaign against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
- Julia Ioffe says Putin aims to make Ukrainian cities unlivable before winter, though the strategy has not broken Ukrainian resistance.
Intelligence Sharing Became Leverage Over Ukraine
- U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine has become both unreliable and a bargaining weapon.
- The Trump administration has reportedly threatened to restrict intelligence if Ukraine continues striking Russian oil infrastructure.
Ukraine Tries To Bring The War Home
- Ukraine targets Russian war infrastructure, federal oil revenue, and public complacency about the war.
- Disrupting refineries, drone warehouses, and Moscow travel aims to make Russians pressure Putin, but authoritarian control has limited that effect.