Vladimir Putin and then-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro at the Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2025 (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Reuters)
EA on War and Politics 24: Ukraine — How Putin’s Oreshnik “Demonstration Strike” Failed
I outline setbacks for the Kremlin in the past year from Syria to Venezuela. I take apart its rhetoric over an “alternative world order”. And I note that Putin cannot even count on an unpredictable Donald Trump who wants to demonstrate US dominance, even over Moscow.
However, I caution that this does not mean an end to the Russian invasion. While Ukraine and Europe have obtained US involvement in a 20-point plan, including American participation in security guarantees, the details are not final — and Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may soon visit the Kremlin.
In the last part of the interview, we switch to Trump’s threats to seize Greenland, and how they might aid the Russians in the attempt to split the US from Ukraine and Europe.