August 16, 2025 • 12 mins
Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin yesterday to come to an agreement over the war in Ukraine.
The two left the meeting seemingly happy with how it went, and Trump noted it "went very well", but no deal was announced.
Vlodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Trump at the White House later this week.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
As we know, Donald Trump has met with Vladimir Putin
to come to an agreement or not over the war
in Ukraine. The two left the meeting seemingly happy. Putin
looked very happy without went and Trump noted it went
very well, but no deal was announced to Vladimir Zelenski
will meet with President Trump at the White House later
this week. International security affairs expert Paul Buchanan joins me. Paul,
(00:33):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Jim.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
A lot of excitement and anticipation preceded this meeting. Did
we do we make any progress?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Well, they've agreed to continue talking, But yeah, let's be
very honest. The clear winner was Putin. I actually found
there was a wee bit of projection in the American approach.
The red carpet allowing Pudin to ride in the limo,
the overfly by fighter jets. That's the sort of stuff
(01:08):
Trump likes. He likes that a lot. Yeah, a guy
like Putin is not impressed by such displays, And so
I thought, you know, this is what Trump would like
to receive in Russia.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Is that why you think like that because he thought, well,
this is how I'd like to wear save let's do
the sign for Lad.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, except that as an old KGB officer, Vlad is
not impressed by showy displays of military might and so.
And then instead, Putin turned around and I won't say
that he played Trump like a violin, but he said, yes,
the twenty twenty election was stolen, you know, went on
(01:52):
and basically repeated to Trump many of the claims that
Trump has made over the years about that election, denying
that the Russians were involved in the twenty sixteen election anyway,
as an example of mastery and manipulation. I thought Putin
(02:12):
was clearly the winner. Now, the substance of the talks,
you know, they agreed to keep on talking. The key
here is that Trump said that if they didn't get
a ceaspire on the day, there would be severe consequences
for Russia. And I think what he meant by that
was secondary sanctions on Russian oil and natural gas exports
(02:32):
to places like China and India. That did not happen.
So the US is clearly losing. Now. The one thing
that we have to be clear is that rather than
a Ceaspire, right, there was no ceasfire. Trump is now
repeating Putin's line that they need a comprehensive peace agreement.
(02:53):
The key to that, apparently is for the Russians to
lay claim to the entire Donbas region, major industrial region
and Ukraine the gateway to Kiev and beyond. And they
already have the facto control of the lu Hans and
(03:13):
they're fighting for the don Esque part of the Donbas.
This seems to be a way for Russian forces to
continue their advance until such a time they have full
control of Dombas then call for a peace agreement. That
obviously is not going to fly with the Ukrainians or
the Europeans. And so when Zalenci goes to the White
(03:37):
House on Monday, he's going to receive some bad news.
And the question is will this be a repeat of
the shouting match?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, yes, that was the question that I was going
to get to just on you said that, just on
that whole red carpet treatment. You said it wouldn't have
impressed Putin, but he I mean the other counter to it,
not the counter, but he would have still loved it, though,
because this is a guy who's been branded by the
ICC as a war criminal, and he had the Red
carpet rolled at it for him. So he would have
loved the optics from the point of view of even
(04:08):
though didn't make any progress in negotiations. That was another
big win from wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I was? In fact, it doubled down on the win
he already had by going to the United States and
being received as a VIP by the President. It legitimates
the Russian position. Now we have to remember Russia invaded Ukraine.
But more importantly, and I think a lot of us
don't remember this, Russia violated the nineteen ninety four Budapest
(04:37):
Memorandum which exchanged Ukrainian nukes for sovereignty and independence in
foreign affairs. So this is a gross violation which was
signed by Russia the United States in the UK And
so he's now his position is now being legitimated. He
talked about root causes. While the root cause is Putin
(05:00):
believes that Ukraine is not an independent state, that it's
a part of Russia, and that shouldn't be you know,
negotiating for NATO membership. The latter might be negotiable, the
former is not. And so uh, he got the But
remember this guy who I'm speaking about, he is a
seasoned intelligence officer. Yes, he would have been flattered, but
(05:24):
it'd be flattered, I guess. You know when when little
children come up with bearing roses and daffodils, You know,
it's a nice gesture, wonderful. But the real business is ahead.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
So looking ahead to the Zelensky meeting. Of course, since
the last meeting where Zelensky was you know, was a
terrible meeting at the White House was Zilynxkin Trump. But
since then there has been a lot more involvement with
NATO nations in Europe backing Zelenski. So Zelensky will no
doubt be nervous, won't he? For that Trump's Zelensky meeting.
(05:59):
What's the best we can hope for?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Oh? Well, I mean it's interesting because the conservative press
in the United States is making a big deal about
the supposed fact that the White House demanded that Zolenski
wear a suit this time. Now, this sort of frivolity
tells me that maybe this meeting is not going to
be as serious as one would have hoped. But to
(06:25):
counter that, perhaps the Europeans have said they'd like to
be at the table, and Zelenski said that he is
not opposed to having European leaders at the meeting as well.
So this is going to get interesting because if Trump
and his people say no, we don't want anyone else
in the room except JD. Vance and Marco Rubio, then
(06:47):
Zolenski has reason to say, you know, this is bigger
than just the Ukraine. It involves US, but it involves
European security, the security guarantees that the US, D or
NATO can offer Ukraine in exchange for a peace agreement.
So there's going to be a lot of negotiating in
the next twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
If there was even going to be a deal done,
what realistically concessions will have to be made by both
sides because Zelensky's hardly going to I mean, Putin's hardly
going to say okay, right them out of Ukraine completely.
There's going to be some concession, isn't there? What do
you realistically think is possible?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, I think he's playing the Dombas hands so that
he can keep Crimea and some of the Russians speaking
Russian majority regions in southeastern Ukraine. So they're talking about
the Dombas because of its strategic importance, but they may
settle for less. They'll of course want the Ukrainians out
(07:51):
of that very small pocket that the Ukrainians control in
the southwestern Russia, and they want sanctions relief. So if
they get sanctions relief, they get their own territory back,
and it's recognized that Crimea is Russian. I think they
might settle for less than the entire Golmbas region. At
(08:12):
that point, Zelensky's got to make some very difficult choices,
but it may be the best choice that you know,
he's offered.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
There is pressure within Russia, I guess, or imputent not
to continue with the war forever. Because so I mean,
are we we are a step closer to something, do
you think, or a big step or a tincy wins
one with a lot more water to fly under the bridge.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think it's the latter. I mean, we have to
remember that the Russian upper classes, be they in Saint
Petersburg or b they in Moscow, they're completely insulated from
this war. They you know, they're living their lives normally,
and it's you know, the working classes and what not
(09:01):
that are the meat in the grinder of attrition. That
is the Russian approach to war. So he can continue
and he can continue to expand men in materiel endlessly.
One of the things that's interesting about the sanctions regime
is that seventy percent of the hard currency earnings in
Russia come from those gas and oil exports, but thirty
(09:25):
percent of the Russian GDP is now invested in the
war machine producing weapons. And so he can grind on
until the Europeans as well as the Ukrainians are exhausted.
And then there is that fickle element, what is Trump
going to do the day after next? And I personally
(09:48):
think that Putin has a tremendous psychological profile on Trump.
Of course, people believe.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
He's not the only one. Probably I think the European
leaders have worked them out too, haven't they.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yeah, But see, it's all about flattery, and sometimes you know,
you've got to tell the emperor he has no clothes,
and so Putin will never do that because he realizes
that you know, if you paint things gold and tell
you know, Trump's great, Uh, he wants to be your friend.
The Europeans sometimes tough love.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I might explain why, I might explain why Staymer has
said that Trump is bringing the end of the war
closer than ever. So he's playing the same game. Isn't
he doing a great job? Doing a great job. How
when do you realistically think we could see a potential
ceasefire and a change in the situation. Then we're talking
weeks months.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I hate to say he is, uh, yeah, that's just said. Well,
remember there's no ceasefire. Okay, so we're talking now a
peace agreement. That's going to take a long time. See,
that's part of the stalling tactic that Putin successfully negotiated,
because the more time it takes to sit down and
agree on a durable piece, the more territory his forces
(11:05):
and conquer under present conditions. And so either the Europeans
and the Americans step up their weapons supplies to the
Ukrainians and Americans will not, he'll be able to proceed
gain territory. Gain is very clear. The Russians don't want
all of the Ukraine anymore. They know they can't get it.
But if they can get the eastern third, which is
(11:27):
the most industrialized part of the country, as well as
having some very good farmland, as it turns out, he'll
be satisfied. So I would hope that by the end
of this year, Puna is convinced that he's made enough
territorial gains, he'll be left with some Ukrainian territory in
(11:49):
exchange for sanctions relief and holding on to Crimea. Again.
It's you know, it's a bad deal from the Western
point of view, but it may be the only deal
that will bring peace.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Thanks Paul, I really appreciate Thomas Afternoon that as pulled Vuchanan,
international security fears expert, really appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk ZEDB weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
As we know, Donald Trump has met with Vladimir Putin
to come to an agreement or not over the war
in Ukraine. The two left the meeting seemingly happy. Putin
looked very happy without went and Trump noted it went
very well, but no deal was announced to Vladimir Zelenski
will meet with President Trump at the White House later
this week. International security affairs expert Paul Buchanan joins me. Paul,
(00:33):
Good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Good afternoon, Jim.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
A lot of excitement and anticipation preceded this meeting. Did
we do we make any progress?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Well, they've agreed to continue talking, But yeah, let's be
very honest. The clear winner was Putin. I actually found
there was a wee bit of projection in the American approach.
The red carpet allowing Pudin to ride in the limo,
the overfly by fighter jets. That's the sort of stuff
(01:08):
Trump likes. He likes that a lot. Yeah, a guy
like Putin is not impressed by such displays, And so
I thought, you know, this is what Trump would like
to receive in Russia.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Is that why you think like that because he thought, well,
this is how I'd like to wear save let's do
the sign for Lad.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Yeah, except that as an old KGB officer, Vlad is
not impressed by showy displays of military might and so.
And then instead, Putin turned around and I won't say
that he played Trump like a violin, but he said, yes,
the twenty twenty election was stolen, you know, went on
(01:52):
and basically repeated to Trump many of the claims that
Trump has made over the years about that election, denying
that the Russians were involved in the twenty sixteen election anyway,
as an example of mastery and manipulation. I thought Putin
(02:12):
was clearly the winner. Now, the substance of the talks,
you know, they agreed to keep on talking. The key
here is that Trump said that if they didn't get
a ceaspire on the day, there would be severe consequences
for Russia. And I think what he meant by that
was secondary sanctions on Russian oil and natural gas exports
(02:32):
to places like China and India. That did not happen.
So the US is clearly losing. Now. The one thing
that we have to be clear is that rather than
a Ceaspire, right, there was no ceasfire. Trump is now
repeating Putin's line that they need a comprehensive peace agreement.
(02:53):
The key to that, apparently is for the Russians to
lay claim to the entire Donbas region, major industrial region
and Ukraine the gateway to Kiev and beyond. And they
already have the facto control of the lu Hans and
(03:13):
they're fighting for the don Esque part of the Donbas.
This seems to be a way for Russian forces to
continue their advance until such a time they have full
control of Dombas then call for a peace agreement. That
obviously is not going to fly with the Ukrainians or
the Europeans. And so when Zalenci goes to the White
(03:37):
House on Monday, he's going to receive some bad news.
And the question is will this be a repeat of
the shouting match?
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Well, yes, that was the question that I was going
to get to just on you said that, just on
that whole red carpet treatment. You said it wouldn't have
impressed Putin, but he I mean the other counter to it,
not the counter, but he would have still loved it, though,
because this is a guy who's been branded by the
ICC as a war criminal, and he had the Red
carpet rolled at it for him. So he would have
loved the optics from the point of view of even
(04:08):
though didn't make any progress in negotiations. That was another
big win from wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
I was? In fact, it doubled down on the win
he already had by going to the United States and
being received as a VIP by the President. It legitimates
the Russian position. Now we have to remember Russia invaded Ukraine.
But more importantly, and I think a lot of us
don't remember this, Russia violated the nineteen ninety four Budapest
(04:37):
Memorandum which exchanged Ukrainian nukes for sovereignty and independence in
foreign affairs. So this is a gross violation which was
signed by Russia the United States in the UK And
so he's now his position is now being legitimated. He
talked about root causes. While the root cause is Putin
(05:00):
believes that Ukraine is not an independent state, that it's
a part of Russia, and that shouldn't be you know,
negotiating for NATO membership. The latter might be negotiable, the
former is not. And so uh, he got the But
remember this guy who I'm speaking about, he is a
seasoned intelligence officer. Yes, he would have been flattered, but
(05:24):
it'd be flattered, I guess. You know when when little
children come up with bearing roses and daffodils, You know,
it's a nice gesture, wonderful. But the real business is ahead.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
So looking ahead to the Zelensky meeting. Of course, since
the last meeting where Zelensky was you know, was a
terrible meeting at the White House was Zilynxkin Trump. But
since then there has been a lot more involvement with
NATO nations in Europe backing Zelenski. So Zelensky will no
doubt be nervous, won't he? For that Trump's Zelensky meeting.
(05:59):
What's the best we can hope for?
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Oh? Well, I mean it's interesting because the conservative press
in the United States is making a big deal about
the supposed fact that the White House demanded that Zolenski
wear a suit this time. Now, this sort of frivolity
tells me that maybe this meeting is not going to
be as serious as one would have hoped. But to
(06:25):
counter that, perhaps the Europeans have said they'd like to
be at the table, and Zelenski said that he is
not opposed to having European leaders at the meeting as well.
So this is going to get interesting because if Trump
and his people say no, we don't want anyone else
in the room except JD. Vance and Marco Rubio, then
(06:47):
Zolenski has reason to say, you know, this is bigger
than just the Ukraine. It involves US, but it involves
European security, the security guarantees that the US, D or
NATO can offer Ukraine in exchange for a peace agreement.
So there's going to be a lot of negotiating in
the next twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
If there was even going to be a deal done,
what realistically concessions will have to be made by both
sides because Zelensky's hardly going to I mean, Putin's hardly
going to say okay, right them out of Ukraine completely.
There's going to be some concession, isn't there? What do
you realistically think is possible?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Well, I think he's playing the Dombas hands so that
he can keep Crimea and some of the Russians speaking
Russian majority regions in southeastern Ukraine. So they're talking about
the Dombas because of its strategic importance, but they may
settle for less. They'll of course want the Ukrainians out
(07:51):
of that very small pocket that the Ukrainians control in
the southwestern Russia, and they want sanctions relief. So if
they get sanctions relief, they get their own territory back,
and it's recognized that Crimea is Russian. I think they
might settle for less than the entire Golmbas region. At
(08:12):
that point, Zelensky's got to make some very difficult choices,
but it may be the best choice that you know,
he's offered.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
There is pressure within Russia, I guess, or imputent not
to continue with the war forever. Because so I mean,
are we we are a step closer to something, do
you think, or a big step or a tincy wins
one with a lot more water to fly under the bridge.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think it's the latter. I mean, we have to
remember that the Russian upper classes, be they in Saint
Petersburg or b they in Moscow, they're completely insulated from
this war. They you know, they're living their lives normally,
and it's you know, the working classes and what not
(09:01):
that are the meat in the grinder of attrition. That
is the Russian approach to war. So he can continue
and he can continue to expand men in materiel endlessly.
One of the things that's interesting about the sanctions regime
is that seventy percent of the hard currency earnings in
Russia come from those gas and oil exports, but thirty
(09:25):
percent of the Russian GDP is now invested in the
war machine producing weapons. And so he can grind on
until the Europeans as well as the Ukrainians are exhausted.
And then there is that fickle element, what is Trump
going to do the day after next? And I personally
(09:48):
think that Putin has a tremendous psychological profile on Trump.
Of course, people believe.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
He's not the only one. Probably I think the European
leaders have worked them out too, haven't they.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yeah, But see, it's all about flattery, and sometimes you know,
you've got to tell the emperor he has no clothes,
and so Putin will never do that because he realizes
that you know, if you paint things gold and tell
you know, Trump's great, Uh, he wants to be your friend.
The Europeans sometimes tough love.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I might explain why, I might explain why Staymer has
said that Trump is bringing the end of the war
closer than ever. So he's playing the same game. Isn't
he doing a great job? Doing a great job. How
when do you realistically think we could see a potential
ceasefire and a change in the situation. Then we're talking
weeks months.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I hate to say he is, uh, yeah, that's just said. Well,
remember there's no ceasefire. Okay, so we're talking now a
peace agreement. That's going to take a long time. See,
that's part of the stalling tactic that Putin successfully negotiated,
because the more time it takes to sit down and
agree on a durable piece, the more territory his forces
(11:05):
and conquer under present conditions. And so either the Europeans
and the Americans step up their weapons supplies to the
Ukrainians and Americans will not, he'll be able to proceed
gain territory. Gain is very clear. The Russians don't want
all of the Ukraine anymore. They know they can't get it.
But if they can get the eastern third, which is
(11:27):
the most industrialized part of the country, as well as
having some very good farmland, as it turns out, he'll
be satisfied. So I would hope that by the end
of this year, Puna is convinced that he's made enough
territorial gains, he'll be left with some Ukrainian territory in
(11:49):
exchange for sanctions relief and holding on to Crimea. Again.
It's you know, it's a bad deal from the Western
point of view, but it may be the only deal
that will bring peace.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Thanks Paul, I really appreciate Thomas Afternoon that as pulled Vuchanan,
international security fears expert, really appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk ZEDB weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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