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KQED's Forum

Trump Whistleblower Alexander Vindman on Why the U.S. Has Turned Its Back on Ukraine

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The United States has reached a preliminary deal with Ukraine to share in revenue from the country’s mineral assets, but so far it is not offering security guarantees against Russia in return. It’s a reflection of the Trump Administration’s Russia-first policy, according to retired army lieutenant colonel and Trump impeachment whistleblower Alexander Vindman. We talk to Vindman about his new book “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.” Guests: Alexander Vindman, author, His new book is "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine"; lieutenant colonel, United States Army (Retired); former director for European Affairs; U.S. National Security Council Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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Music From KQED. From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum. I'm Mina Kim. The U.S. has a draft deal with Ukraine for the country's mineral assets, but so far we're not offering clear security guarantees against Russia in return. It's a reflection of the Trump administration's Russia-first policy and decades of administrations deluding themselves about Russia,

1:45.5

says Alexander Vindman, an expert on Eastern Europe who drew national attention as Trump's

1:50.5

impeachment whistleblower in 2019. As Ukrainian President Zelensky prepares to meet with Trump tomorrow,

1:57.0

we talk to Vindman about a different way forward that he lays out in his book,

2:01.6

The Folly of Realism.

2:03.6

Join us.

2:07.9

Welcome to Forum. I'm Mina Kim.

2:14.8

On Monday, the three-year mark of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a UN General Assembly resolution condemned the war and called for Russia's withdrawal. The U.S., in a stunning reversal, voted against it. This upending of the U.S. position on Ukraine under President Trump comes as Zelensky is expected at the White House tomorrow, seeking security

2:34.9

guarantees in exchange for access to Ukraine's minerals. Joining me now is retired Army lieutenant colonel

2:41.5

and former director for European affairs on the National Security Council, Alexander Vindman,

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