Trump gets restless with Russia on Ukraine war as Witkoff visits Moscow before Iran meeting
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Transcript:
ANCHOR:
It’s a busy morning for the Pentagon. Diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff is in Russia with hopes of reaching a peace deal in the war with Ukraine. Then he jumps over to Oman tomorrow to talk about Iran’s nuclear program. Senior National Security Correspondent Charlie D’Agata joins us live to talk about this. Always great to see you. So, President Trump has expressed frustration with President Putin over the last week or so. That is new. What can we expect from this in-person meeting today?
CHARLIE D’AGATA:
President Trump said he is "p’d off" with Putin. He tweeted, Russia’s got to get moving. Too many people are dying. Just as it looked like they were gaining ground towards at least a temporary 30-day cease-fire, Putin moved the goalposts. He’s demanding the loosening of UN sanctions.
At the same time, Russians have been bombarding Ukraine up and down the front line — and we get those reports from our colleagues in Ukraine as well. He’s calling into question not only Zelensky’s legitimacy, but the government’s legitimacy.
So the question is, with Witkoff going to Russia, is he going with a stick or a carrot? Punish Putin with further sanctions, or offer to loosen some of those? You mentioned Iran — we’ll get to that in a second — but I don’t think it’s any coincidence that he’s visiting them on the eve of this. Russia still has considerable influence over Iran, and the foreign minister said, “Look, we can help in negotiations.”
ANCHOR:
I want to ask about this angle: the U.S. will not attend in person a meeting with the Defense Contact Group. Secretary Hegseth will be joining virtually. How does that piece of the puzzle help with the overall picture?
CHARLIE D’AGATA:
First of all, I have to go back and say that it was Secretary Austin — the former Secretary of Defense — who actually set up that contact group in the first place. This is something formed out of the United States military.
So the fact that Hegseth is attending virtually — as far as we know, that was only decided yesterday. It’ll be co-hosted by Britain and Germany. Talks are already underway. These are regular meetings, and they are meant to bolster military support for Ukraine.
But considering Putin’s stance — as we discussed — defense ministers have already said he’s in no mood for peace. He said this morning, Peace is out of reach. They’ve already announced $23 billion in military funding. Germany has pledged to provide air defense systems and Patriot missile systems. Those are very important to Ukraine.
But the Trump administration — and Hegseth himself — has been urging European allies to take the lead, and that’s what we are seeing happening. But ultimately, Ukraine is going to need U.S. support if there is no end in sight for this conflict.
ANCHOR:
That’s interesting, Charlie. Considering what’s happening in Europe — you’ve got Witkoff in Russia, then he heads to Oman to talk about Iran — and there’s a new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff overnight. What will be his first order of business? Lieutenant General Dan Kane in that post?
CHARLIE D’AGATA:
All of the above, I guess.
We also have to remember: the United States is already in a shooting war against the Houthis. They are completely tooled up in that region — that’s where Yemen and Iran are. Two aircraft carriers, half a dozen destroyers, cruisers, F-16s, F-35s, stealth bombers. I imagine that is going to be the most pressing priority right now.
Then, decisions to be made over the U.S. military presence in Europe, and what to do about Ukraine.
And we can’t forget about China. Because as the trade war is ratcheting up, the tensions — military tensions — between the United States and China are doing so as well. So he is there to gather information from the COE combatants — these are the leaders — in a place called The Tank. Put all that information together and advise the Defense Secretary and the President as far as what assets are available.
Not so much in the policy discussions, but to give them the information so he will have to hit the ground running.
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Remember that Trump claimed this war would never have started if he were PotUS and that he could end it with a phone call.
Yet supporters still cannot acknowledge that he is full of shit. Compare the bullshit during his campaign with what he is actually doing:
Gee... d'ya think good ol' Vlad maybe lied to the Mad King?
Vlad wouldn't lie to his BFF, would he?
PUTIN explicitly threatened Japan yesterday saying that if one Japanese soldir is sited in Ukraine or one Russian dies from a bullet or bomb produced in Japan, Japan will face 'the severest measures".
I guess he was a little sensitive about the captured Chinese soldiers in the Donetsk yesterday.
Another stable genius.
So, what is the solution to ending this war....even more US money and materials? The Dems never came up with an answer or seemed to care
What would Kamala do had she won?
My position is this. Putin will not willingly negotiate reasonable terms. Thus the balance must be shifted in favor of Ukraine. This can be done by the USA committing to support Ukraine and joining with the rest of the NATO nations to ensure Ukraine can overpower Putin. Peace through strength.
Trump, the moron, did the opposite. In result, he emboldened Putin and diminished Ukraine.
Do you believe Trump when he claims this war would have never started if he were PotUS given how he has behaved now that he is back in office?
Not only is this good for peace, it also brings the USA back into the fold with allies. It starts repairing some of the damage Trump stupidly inflicted with his tariff insanity.
Or he could roll over like a puppy
Scratch my ego!
Seems Don the con vickted fell on Vlad who Trump calls dad d, U know, da one who won it for Don knee reflectively imagined to image the footage, of ole Donny gettin his gold in buckets, cause ewe no urine a lot of trouble when a dick tater tot tells ya ta ketchup, but watcha gonna due 47, Putin is your zero hero, that doesn't care if your pist and have a hiiss y fit in his fist on the dark side of the moon where both don't shine
yet i bet, Trump wood shine Putins putter, on his kneees and hisnshoes, cause Don kissin Putins' asz jiz old news
Hey Greg, did you ever feek=l u had to keep up with the Jones's ?
Cause Im damn sure she wouldn't try to keep fckn u, just like Trump the evil economic emperor, as he strikes back at our allies, US, and more. She wouldn't try to keep up with two pump chump TRump, the guy who has economic posture, sorta like Igors' slight switching shoulders hump in a car on the side of the rhode hard scholar, put a way wet weight away forno good utter than tomilk our system, as he is robbing US All but not ALL OF US ARE not BLIND !!!!
Wake the fck up peep wholes, can't you see he's in it for they and him " lower prices on day one", Yea, that fckn day will come when HELL freezes over, or another Eagles tour, after another Super Bowel Win, as the art of the deal, gonna have US All Squeal
I thought the war settled on day one of Trumps presidency, it wasn’t, oh my.
i seem to remeber something about 24 hours, but zTrump said he could end it in a day
And it never would have started if Trump were PotUS but somehow that magical power over Putin is not enough to even bring him to the negotiating table.
Yet Trump supporters still believe ...
I'd guess that Vlad had Donald scoped even before they first met. Donald idolizes Vlad. So of course Vlad despises (in the sense "considers to be inferior, unworthy") Donald.
I'd also guess that Vlad sings Donald's praises when they meet. "Paris is worth a mass." The Mad.King is delighted.
The paucity of their contributions in the past several days suggest a weekend group therapy session is taking place. By Monday I expect the 'newly' fomented excuses to gush in selfrighteous unison.
The excuses have just parroted the rhetoric coming from the administration. The key excuse is "give it some time, the president has a plan".
So if there is a new set of excuses we will first hear them from the administration's talking heads.
That's the scary part.
He is an irresponsible loose-cannon ... and is stubbornly stupid because he always thinks he is right and never listens to others (unless they are praising him).
Spectacular, hmmm?
I agree that the pause in stupidity is probably due to a huddle over at the Ministry of Truth, where our Goebbels wannabes are trying to create a playbook without having any rules....