Over Here, Over There

Citizen Dan: Whose Side Are You On, Mr. Trump?

• Dan Harris and Claudia Koestler • Season 3 • Episode 33

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Over Here, Over There's Dan Harris speaks with BBC Radio Wiltshire and Gloucestershire host Graham Rogers again this week regarding the White House EU Summit regarding peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. After a disappointing meeting in Alaska for President Trump, can he rally EU leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who have gathered for an unprecedented meeting at the White House to discuss their response to Russian President Putin's demands for a possible solution to the conflict? The stakes are high on all sides, and the world will see how far the Trump Administration will go in favouring Russia over America's long-standing allies, a position that no other President has taken in US history. 

The conversation focuses on the diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, particularly the meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Trump, alongside European leaders. The discussion highlights the complexities of foreign policy, the influence of leadership decisions, and the implications of the ongoing war on global relations and resources.

Takeaways

  • Diplomatic efforts are crucial in halting the conflict in Ukraine.
  • Zelenskyy's visit to the White House is significant for Ukraine's future.
  • Trump's previous meeting with Putin raised concerns about his stance on Russia.
  • European leaders' presence at the White House indicates a united front.
  • Zelenskyy cannot constitutionally give up land without parliamentary approval.
  • The Donbass region is strategically important and rich in minerals.
  • Past agreements with Russia have failed, raising doubts about future guarantees.
  • Trump's desire for a Nobel Peace Prize may influence his decisions.
  • The ongoing war impacts U.S. domestic policies and resources.
  • The outcome of the meeting could redefine U.S. foreign policy.


Sound Bites

  • "A big day at the White House."
  • "Trump seems easily swayed by Putin."
  • "What is Trump's endgame?"

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Graham Rogers (00:00.174)

Crucial meeting this afternoon. Diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict in Ukraine. President Zelensky is visiting the White House for talks with President Donald Trump accompanied by a host of European leaders including our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Now last time Vladimir Zelensky and Donald Trump met at the White House in the Oval Office, you might remember, it didn't go well. 

 

White House clip of conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky:

During the war everybody has problems.

 

Even you, but you have nice ocean and don't feel now, but you will feel it in the future. God bless. You don't know that. God bless. don't know bless. You will not have a war. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel. I'm not telling you. Because you're in position to dictate that. Remember that. You're in no position to dictate what we're going to feel.

 

We're going to feel very good. We're going to feel very good and very strong. You're right now not in a very good position. You've allowed yourself to be in a very bad position and it happens to be right about now. You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. Wow. So what are the prospects for something better today? Donald Trump posted on social media earlier.

 

A big day at the White House. have never had so many European leaders here at one time. A great honor for America. Let's see what the results will be. 

 

Graham Rogers

Well, I want to get the thoughts of Dan Harris, who's joined me back on the program this afternoon. Dan from Charlton Kings near Cheltenham, originally from upstate New York. He's worked on Capitol Hill. He's worked at the White House as well. He's now a U.S. political commentator and hosts the podcast over here, over there. Dan, good afternoon to you.

 

Dan Harris

Good afternoon. 

 

Graham Rogers

Well, here we are again. We spoke to you on the program last week because the vice president, JD Vance, was visiting RAF Fairford. But since we last chatted, we've had that, shall we say controversial Alaskan summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. What's the feeling in the States about how much progress has been made, if any, following that peace meeting?

 

Dan Harris

That did not go well for Donald Trump and in many pundits eyes across the across the media no, it  looked like he was cowed and too much in favor of what Putin was putting on the on the table and So we are wary of what's going happen today very much So so I mean Trump seems easily swayed by Putin or the last person he speaks with on matters. So, hopefully, European leaders coming to the White House in this unprecedented meeting will impress Trump enough to keep supporting Zelensky and the Ukrainians. But after that humiliating meeting with Putin, Trump seems to be taking the position of giving into Russia's demands of control over the Donbass region and no NATO membership in limits on Ukrainian military, all of which are unacceptable, can't be acceptable to Zelensky, which I mean, he can't even do that constitutionally in his own country anyway. 

 

Graham Rogers

Surely not acceptable to anyone. you know, I said this when we were talking to one of our reporters an hour or so ago. Let's not forget that the world's leaders warned Putin not to invade when his troops were lining up on the Russian-Ukrainian border. He was warned, don't do it. He went ahead. He invaded a country. Thousands of people have lost their lives as a result of that decision rather. Zelensky. Volodymyr Zelensky has today said Russia should not be rewarded for war. He's got a point.

 

Dan Harris

Yes, very much so. Very much so. mean, and that the Donbass region is rich in minerals. It's very strategic. There just can't be any trade-off between security guarantees, which are dubious because of past agreements not being fulfilled by Russia, like in the 1994 agreement. So, what kind of guarantees can the United States give, security guarantees can the United States give in this situation that will convince Zelensky that giving up land for those security guarantees, when they didn't work before in 1994? And he can't, again, he can't do that constitutionally anyway without passing it through his own parliament and stuff. And he could even be impeached or it's not in his remit to do that alone. So, it's a very difficult situation for Zelinsky. And it's also pivotal to see what happens and how far the US under Trump will go in siding with Russia. U.S. foreign policy will really be defined in the next few days as far as how far the U.S. foreign policy has gone in favor of Russia. We'll see when those terms are put down on the table.

 

Graham Rogers

It's interesting. I'm sure Donald Trump is haunted by his own words during the presidential election campaign. If I get elected, I'll end this war in 24 hours. And here we are. It's still ongoing. What's Donald Trump's endgame here?

 

Dan Harris

Well, personally, his endgame, it’s what seems to be driving it.I  mean, to be cynical, he is after the Nobel Prize. He wants to create some kind of end to this war on whatever terms he can get. Will he swayed by the last meeting, and hopefully he’ll be swayed after tonight by the European leaders, or will he be swayed by Putin and what happened at that terrible meeting in Alaska? We will find out.

 

But his end game is that. But the end game for the European leaders, obviously, it is a huge, huge negotiation tonight. Because if the war continues, that means that America becomes more isolated. The Europeans then have to step up and commit more resources. And that will affect us here, even as far as lack of resources for our domestic policies here in the UK and more going to support Ukraine. So, it has a global impact, as far as this meeting goes tonight.

 

Graham Rogers

As we speak, Dan, European leaders are steadily arriving and going into the White House in Washington, DC, now. Fascinating to talk to you. As always, thank you for joining me on the program this afternoon. It's Dan Harris, hosts the podcast Over Here, Over There.