Ukraine’s national flag flies in Independence Square in Kyiv, August 24, 2025
EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump Camp’s Far-Right Threat to Europe and Ukraine
UPDATE, DEC 13:
I joined Ukraine’s War and Politics 24 for a 37-minute VideoCast about the latest situation around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: the discussions over an end to the assault; the state of the battlefield; counter-attacks inside Russia; and the necessary financial measures to support Kyiv.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 12: In a 29-minute VideoCast, I discuss with Times Radio’s Kate Gerbeau why the defense of Ukraine against Russia’s 46 1/2-month full-scale invasion is so important.
I explain why, despite the flurry of activity around two competing proposals, a negotiated settlement is unlikely in the near future.
I take apart the propaganda of “Russia is winning” — despite a recent increase in their rate of advance, the Russians have taken 0.9% of Ukraine this year at a cost of more than 400,000 casualties — and highlight the Russian economy’s constraints on the invasion.
And — just after chatting with two young Ukrainian broadcast journalists about the invasion, Christmas, and life — I close with thoughts on how historians might look back on the Kremlin’s attempt to conquer Ukraine.
These people just want to live. They want to have their families. They want to have their homes. They want to have their careers.
They do want peace, but they don’t want the peace that the Kremlin or Donald Trump talks about. They want to decide their future.
Did we allow them and support them for that decision? If history writes we did, for their security and day-to-day-living, we come out on the right side.
However, if history writes that they became pawns or afterthoughts or expendable, a proper history gives us every black mark we deserve.
I am not promoting anything. The Russian casualty count is 400,000 to date, this year? What source is the Institute of War using? If it’s Ukrainian intelligence, how are they able to verify this claim? And why are no casualty counts reported for Ukrainian forces? I never see a reporting of this on EA Worldview. How can you fully assess battlefield conditions when you don’t have all the information?
Where is the investigative journalism?
As for the joint economic project proposals: You can look at it through a cynical lens all you want, but these Trump Admin propositions to the Russians are part and parcel of a peace settlement. It’s not all avarice.
[Editor’s Note: I understand that you are a fervent promoter of the Kremlin’s talking points, but please don’t use a conversation with two outstanding people — who are trying to survive this invasion as well as doing the public a great service with their journalism — as the peg for your propaganda.]
“And — just after chatting with two young Ukrainian broadcast journalists about the invasion, Christmas, and life — I close with thoughts on how historians might look back on the Kremlin’s attempt to conquer Ukraine.”
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I thought Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was meant to protect the Russian-speaking people in the Donbass and to drive out the NATO presence — military infrastructure and personnel deployed in Ukraine after the events of 2014.
As for security guarantees: A post-war NATO presence inside Ukraine is likely to lead another war or military clash of some kind. I don’t know why Russia would agree to this, and why this would be in the interest of the United States. A treaty like the Austrian State Treaty (1955) — no foreign military presence — makes more sense. Just saying.
Excellent interview Mr. Lucas as you diplomatically addressed the interviewer’s focus on the alleged substantial momentum of the Putin/Trump sovereignity surrender proposal.
It has indeed been encouraging to see the MAGA administration splinter finally on the issue of Ukraine. The strengthening of the American opposition shown in recent elections should buttress the folks opposing Ukraine’s surrender.
At some point it should be much too interesting as Mr. Trump attacks Venezuela to divert attention from the released Epstein Files, and Putin uses his absolute leverage on Mr. Trump as Putin becomes increasingly desperate due to his failure to defeat Ukraine. Trump’s breaking point appears imminent.