Ukraine Russia Direct Talks to begin IMMEDIATELY /Lt Daniel Davis & Andrei Martyanov

18 snips

May 19, 2025

In this discussion, Andrei Martyanov, a veteran and Russian military expert, unpacks the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis and the nuances of international diplomacy. He highlights Putin's steadfast demands regarding ceasefire terms, pointing out historical grievances linked to the Minsk agreements. The conversation also examines the misconceptions surrounding Russia's economy and its complex relationship with the U.S., while offering insights into the current military strategies and the skepticism around potential peace negotiations. Expect a thought-provoking analysis of geopolitical tensions!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Russia Demands Root Cause Talks First

Russia insists on addressing the root causes before any ceasefire can be considered.
No ceasefire will happen until NATO expansion and related issues are resolved from their perspective.

INSIGHT

Minsk Agreement Distrust

Russians view the Minsk Agreements as a Western ploy to arm Ukraine rather than a real ceasefire.
This betrayal fuels their refusal to consider a ceasefire without addressing fundamental issues first.

INSIGHT

Diplomatic Politeness Vs. Firmness

Putin maintains diplomatic politeness while being firm and unyielding in negotiations.
Trump misinterprets cordial tone as progress or agreement.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Daniel Davis Deep Dive Merch: Etsy store

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DanielDavisDeepDive?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a two-hour phone call, followed by Trump speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU leaders like Ursula von der Leyen, and others. Trump expressed enthusiasm afterward, suggesting Russia and Ukraine would start ceasefire negotiations. Putin, on the other hand, seemed neutral or mildly optimistic, sticking to familiar positions.

Key Takeaways:

Putin’s Stance Unchanged: The Russian side, including top officials like Yuri Ushakov and Dmitry Peskov, reiterated long-standing demands: no ceasefire until the “root causes” of the conflict are addressed. They consider NATO expansion and Western betrayal (e.g., Minsk Agreements) as key issues.

Minsk Agreements Distrust: Russians believe they were deceived by the West during previous ceasefire deals (e.g., Minsk), which were allegedly used to arm Ukraine rather than resolve conflict. Statements from leaders like Angela Merkel have reinforced this perception.

No Planned Putin-Trump Meeting: The Kremlin confirmed no meeting between Trump and Putin is being arranged, despite some U.S. media suggesting otherwise.

Trump’s Alternate Reality: Analysts argue Trump misunderstands the situation, assuming that a ceasefire is imminent and believing false narratives about Russia's military losses or economic collapse. They claim he is poorly briefed and still tries to act as a neutral mediator, despite U.S. involvement.

Russian Diplomacy View: Putin may have spoken politely during the call, but experts believe he was likely firm and uncompromising behind diplomatic language.

Negotiation Sequence Disagreement: The West, including Trump, often argues ceasefire first, then negotiations. Russia insists it must be the opposite: address root causes first, then possibly a ceasefire.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.