Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025 (Jae C. Hong/AP)

EA on International Outlets: Can Ukraine-Europe Get Progress from Trump-Putin Meeting?

UPDATE 1659 GMT:

Speaking with the pro-Trump GB “News”, David Dunn details how Donald Trump betrayed Ukraine as he was praised, flattered, and manipulated by Vladimir Putin — and how Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European powers are trying to regain the initiative.

The Europeans are there to put some backbone into Trump. Far from being vassals, as your report erroneously suggests, they are saying to him the whole of Europe is with Ukraine.

They have the power of veto over what Trump can do because they can say, “We are not putting up with this and we will support Ukraine to keep fighting.”

UPDATE 1644 GMT:

David Dunn joins China’s CGTN Europe:

In Alaska the Russians tried to reframe the conflict in Ukraine as an obstacle to better relations between Russian and the US.

The Europeans are saying that is the wrong way to look at this. The problem here is Russia and its illegal aggression and occupation of 20% of a sovereign state on its border. Russia is a threat to European security and the rule of law.

Despite Vladimir Putin’s portrayal, Russia is a defunct economy and a declining regional power that is only propped up by Indian and Chinese purchases of oil.

UPDATE 1333 GMT:

I was part of a 23-minute package on RTE Radio 1’s Today With Claire analyzing the context and possible outcomes of the discussions between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders, and Donald Trump in Washington.

The other contributors are Frank Gardner of the BBC, Suzanne Lynch of Politico, and a Ukrainian journalist whose husband — and soon her son — are on the frontline.

Listen from 9:21:

I push back on Gardner’s portrayal of a desperate situation for Ukraine. I highlight the proposal that Zelensky and the Europeans will make to Trump, with firm security guarantees for Kyiv alongside acceptance of short-term Russian occupation of areas currently held by Moscow. And I anticipate Trump’s possible responses if he does not accept.

Putin’s tactics manipulated Trump on Friday.

But Europe and Ukraine are not just playing a tactical game today. They are pursuing a strategic maneuver: get Ukraine locked in on a path to European Union membership and to being an associate of NATO.

UPDATE, AUG 18:

EA’s David Dunn joins Turkey’s TRT World to preview Monday’s talks between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders, and Donald Trump in the White House:

Trump repeats the last person whom he has spoken to. He doesn’t seem to have a clear idea of what his strategic principles and goals are, and he does seem to be buffetted by events.

UPDATE, AUG 17:

I joined India’s WION on Sunday morning to evaluate how Vladimir Putin flipped Donald Trump into supporting the demands of Russia’s invasion, including the seizure of more than 20% of Ukraine.

And I examine whether Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, visiting Washington today, can return the “yo-yo” Trump to support of a ceasefire, Ukrainian sovereignty, and security guarantees.

Vladimir Putin put Donald Trump back into his pocket, at least for now. But that’s not the end of the story — Trump notoriously listens to the last person in the room.

He could come out of the meeting with Zelensky and European leaders tomorrow with a different position, “Maybe, a ceasefire is the priority.”

Who gets control of the yo-yo and for how long?

Watch from 2:53:

ORIGINAL ENTRY, AUG 16: I joined BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday morning for a 10-minute analysis of Ukraine’s resistance of Russia’s 41 1/2-month invasion, following Vladimir Putin’s humbling of Donald Trump in their meeting in Alaska.

To listen, you need to be in the UK or to use a VPN.

Listen to Discussion from 18:40

Journalist Bethany Elliott, a specialist on Russia, and I discuss Putin’s tactics and Trump’s ineptitude in dealing with them. We assess Russia’s immediate gains: the burial of Trump’s threat of toughened sanctions and the space to continue the quest for Ukraine’s capitulation.

But we also note that this is far from the endgame, as Ukraine and Europe have their own political, economic, and military maneuvers to deal with both Trump and the Russian assault.