How Trump Abandoned Ukraine
Summary
Host Mary Harris discusses the perceived U.S. pivot against Ukraine, covering Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s refusal to confirm Ukraine as an ally and the Trump administration’s decision to lift Russian sanctions and purchase diesel. Guest Romeo Kukraski, a Ukrainian journalist now living outside Kyiv, analyzes the geopolitical fallout, including the lack of Patriot interceptors due to the Iran conflict and the personal financial interests of the Trump family in Russian energy deals.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Perk and Citizens Bank
Listener survey and episode context
Is the US siding with Russia? Media reactions
Introducing Romeo Krukalsky and his displacement
Impact of Iran war on Ukraine's air defense
Zelensky's diplomatic language vs. reality
Sponsors: Moomoo, Vanguard, and Direct Support
The controversial Russian diesel fuel deal
Trump's rationale and historical consistency
Suspension of the Graham Act sanctions
Starshield outage and Musk-Zelensky dynamics
Putin's winter strategy and Ukrainian stoicism
Evolving civilian resilience and morale
Musk's role in Starlink restrictions
Trump's 'might makes right' worldview
Zelensky-Witkoff meeting and Ukrainian betrayal
Personal life: raising a child in wartime
Closing remarks and credits
Sponsors: ShipStation and Perk
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