The Trump administration is re-starting peace talks with Russia and Ukraine. Steve Witkoff and Jarad Kushner, the President’s special envoy team, met with both Putin and Zelensky in an effort to bring both sides to the table. During a recent segment on The Drew Mariani Show, Drew discussed the unfolding events with emeritus professor of political science Dr. Daniel Kempton. 

Pursuing Peace

Last Wednesday, President Trump told reporters that Vladimir Putin is “wanting to make a deal” and “if Zelenskyy is wanting to make a deal, that would be very nice.” 

Though President Trump promised to end the war in 24 hours, peace has proven elusive. When asked what he thought the hold up to peace was, Trump replied, “I think more than anything it’s two people who hate each other.” 

However, Trump still projected optimism about the prospect of a deal. “These are two people who are tired of fighting,” he said.  

Kempton told Drew that Putin would like to end the war “if he can get the right off-ramp; he cannot accept an off-ramp that looks like a loss.” The professor also said that Trump shouldn’t directly confront Putin or “condemn him in public, but keep the pressure on.” 

Testing NATO

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that Putin could attack NATO with a “limited assault” in the coming years. According to WSJ, NATO leaders have become worried about “Russian cruise missiles that have landed in Poland and drones flown into Romania.” With the success of the Ukrainian drone assault against Russia, U.S. officials are concerned “that Putin may become more dangerous when backed into a corner,” reported the WSJ.  

Kemtpon told Drew he doesn’t think Putin wants to “test NATO directly.” Rather, Kempton thinks that Putin sees the rise in conservative, anti-war with Russia parities in the UK, France, and Germany as an advantage, and wants to tell NATO voters, “This war has dangers [and] expenses for you.”