Intelligence Squared Can Trump Deliver Peace in Ukraine? With Catherine Belton
13 snips
Aug 28, 2025 
Catherine Belton, an international investigative reporter for The Washington Post and author of 'Putin's People', joins the discussion on Trump’s potential role in achieving peace in Ukraine. She delves into Putin’s long-term ambitions and the impact of sanctions on Russia. The conversation highlights the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations, examines Europe's geopolitical challenges, and the implications of autocratic alliances, particularly between Russia, China, and India, shedding light on the future of global stability.
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Security Guarantees That Are Not Guarantees
- Russia's proposed 'security guarantees' would give it veto power over Ukraine's defense decisions.
- Belton says this is effectively placing the aggressor inside Ukraine's security architecture.
War Costs Are Wearing On Russia
- Prolonged war raises severe military and economic costs for Russia, including heavy casualties and strained industry.
- Belton highlights rising corporate distress and ballooning wartime spending as pressure points on Putin's regime.
Secondary Sanctions Were Real Leverage
- Secondary sanctions on buyers like India and China were a key leverage point that alarmed the Kremlin.
- Belton argues Trump's apparent easing of that leverage surprised and worried Russian officials prior to the summit.
