How can Trump push Putin toward peace?

Power Play

POLITICO

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4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 13 March 2025

⏱️ 21 minutes

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Summary

The United States-Ukraine plan for a temporary ceasefire has turned up the heat on Russian President Vladimir Putin. What are Donald Trump's next moves if Putin either refuses to accept the deal or places unacceptable demands on Ukraine and its allies? Host Anne McElvoy talks to Kurt Volker, who has a particular insight into Trump’s thinking on Ukraine. Volker was the U.S. special representative during his first administration and America’s ambassador to NATO under President George W. Bush. They discuss how any ensuing negotiations might play out and whether a meaningful peace deal can be achieved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It takes two to tango, as I say, right?
0:02.4	So hopefully he'll also agree.
0:04.9	And I really think that would be 75% of the way.
0:07.8	The rest is getting it documented.
0:09.7	But is Vladimir Putin prepared to dance to Donald Trump's tune?
0:13.6	The U.S. Ukraine plan for a temporary ceasefire has turned up the heat.
0:18.1	Is Moscow's strong man ready to negotiate?
0:24.4	Welcome. has turned up the heat, is Moscow's strong man ready to negotiate? Welcome to PowerPlay Politico's weekly podcast, where I talk to some of the voices
0:28.7	shaping transatlantic thinking in the eventful new Trump era. I'm Anne McHelvoy, and if you
0:35.2	haven't already, please do follow the podcast. My guest this
0:39.1	week has particular insight into President Trump's thinking on Ukraine. Kurt Volko was the US
0:45.6	special representative there during his first administration and also America's ambassador to NATO
0:51.3	under President George W. Bush. After the rapid reproschement between
0:56.3	Washington and Kiev, all eyes are now on how Putin responds. As I speak, one of the president's
1:03.3	closest confidants, Steve Whitkoff, is on his way to Moscow for further talks, so things may now
1:09.5	move very quickly, but the fundamental choices
1:12.4	remain. A Russian version of the Takes 2 to tango saying is, you can't clap with just one
1:19.2	hand. So is this a moment for optimism about an end to the war we should applaud, or is it
1:24.7	on course to all go wrong? Could Volker welcome to PowerPlay?
1:29.2	Thank you so much. It's great to be with it.
1:31.5	Great to speak with you and particularly opposite timing. Were you surprised that the Trump
1:37.8	administration and the Zelensky team managed to get to an agreement swiftly in Saudi Arabia, given the bad blood
	...

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