The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Is Putin Dialing Back On His Ukraine Dreams?
Dec 15, 2025
Dr. Janice Stein, a political scientist and director at the Munk School, brings her insight on pressing international tensions. She discusses Zelensky's surprising concessions regarding NATO and the potential for a ceasefire. Stein reveals Putin's dialed-back demands and outlines what guarantees Zelensky seeks. With Europe stepping up independently, she addresses the complex dynamics of informal negotiations and the role of private negotiators. The conversation invokes alarming comparisons to 1930s Europe, shedding light on rising far-right sentiments amidst geopolitical shifts.
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Zelensky's NATO Concession Is Largely Symbolic
- Vladimir Zelensky publicly conceding NATO membership is really an acknowledgement of an existing reality rather than a new shift.
- Janice Stein says Putin already knew this and Europeans had privately accepted no NATO path for Ukraine.
European Security Guarantees Filling A U.S. Gap
- Zelensky seeks an Article 5–style security guarantee from Europe if NATO membership is off the table.
- Europe may offer guarantees without the U.S., but Janice Stein doubts the current U.S. administration will commit similarly.
Troops As A Tripwire, Not Combat Forces
- European troops on Ukrainian soil would act as a tripwire even if lightly armed, deterring Russian advance.
- Putin insists any deployment equals war, which complicates using peacekeepers as a solution.