The Global Story; The hostage negotiator’s guide to making deals with Putin’s Russia

Global News Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Daily News, News, Documentary

4.2 • 7.8K Ratings

🗓️ 16 November 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Donald Trump has spent this year trying to negotiate a deal to end the war in Ukraine. So far, Vladimir Putin doesn’t seem interested in the US’s proposals. One man who has successfully negotiated with Russia – and with many of America’s adversaries – is Roger Carstens, former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. From 2020 to 2025 he worked to free dozens of US citizens taken hostage and wrongfully detained around the world, including in Russia. Securing their release often required complex deals that took years to put together. What does it take to successfully negotiate with Putin’s Russia?

With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. For more episodes, just search 'The Global Story' wherever you get your BBC Podcasts.

Producer: Lucy Pawle Executive producer: James Shield Senior news editor: China Collins Mix: Travis Evans Photo: Roger Carstens. Credit: BBC

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:05.7	Hey there, I'm Asma Khalid.
0:07.9	And I'm Tristan Redmond, and we're here with a bonus episode for you from the Global Story podcast.
0:13.1	The world order is shifting. Old alliances are fraying and new ones are emerging. Some of this
0:19.7	turbulence can be traced to decisions made in the United States.
0:23.4	But the U.S. isn't just a cause of the upheaval.
0:26.7	Its politics are also a symptom of it.
0:29.8	Every day we focus on one story, looking at how America and the world shape each other.
0:35.0	So we hope you enjoy this episode.
0:37.1	And to find more of our show,
0:39.5	just search for The Global Story, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Donald Trump has prized
0:46.7	himself on being the president who ends wars. But there is one conflict he has failed to make
0:52.9	much progress on so far.
0:54.9	That's Russia's war with Ukraine.
0:57.5	The Russian leader of Vladimir Putin keeps stonewalling American efforts.
1:04.1	One man who has experienced successfully negotiating with Russia and many other U.S. adversaries is Roger Carstens.
1:13.2	He was, until earlier this year, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
1:19.2	In plain speak, that means he was the guy in charge of bringing home Americans wrongfully
1:24.6	detained around the world. He was first appointed to the job by President Trump in 2020.
1:30.6	He spent five years working to free dozens of Americans in often complex deals that took
1:36.6	years to negotiate.
1:38.7	From the BBC, I'm Asma Khalid in Washington, D.C.
	...

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