The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Anastasiia Lapatina and Eric Ciaramella Talk Russia, Ukraine, and Trump
Nov 26, 2025
Anastasiia Lapatina, a Lawfare Ukraine Fellow and journalist, teams up with Eric Ciaramella, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to dive into the complexities of the Russia-Ukraine peace discussions. They dissect the controversial 28-point plan, addressing the U.S. policy's unpredictability and its implications for Ukraine. Lapatina reveals Ukraine's political tension amid the negotiations, while Ciaramella critiques the vague provisions favoring Russia. The duo emphasizes the urgent need for robust security guarantees and clearer strategies for Ukraine's defense.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Domestic Corruption Crisis Amid Negotiations
- Anastasiia Lapatina describes a major corruption scandal implicating Zelensky's associates and ministers during wartime.
- That domestic crisis overlapped with the peace-plan reporting and intensified political pressure in Kyiv.
Detail, Timing, And U.S. Framing Raised Alarm
- The 28-point plan triggered greater alarm because it was detailed, timed, and presented as a U.S. position demanding a quick Ukrainian answer.
- That combination made it feel like an ultimatum rather than exploratory diplomacy.
Guarantees Without Military Steps Are Hollow
- Security guarantees in the proposal were vague and risked repeating the Budapest-style hollow assurances.
- Without interim steps to build Ukraine's military, guarantees would be largely symbolic and unenforceable.