Can Trump get Putin to make a deal?

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Can Trump Get Putin to Make a Deal?

Release Date: August 14, 2025

In this compelling episode of NPR's Consider This, host Mary Louise Kelly delves into the intricate and high-stakes dynamics between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Set against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and evolving military strategies, the episode explores whether Trump can leverage his unique relationship with Putin to broker a peace deal in Ukraine.

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1. Historical Context of US-Russia Relations

Mary Louise Kelly opens the discussion by providing a historical overview of American presidents' interactions with Vladimir Putin:

• George W. Bush: Met with Putin 28 times (00:00)
• Barack Obama: Sat down with Putin nine times, aiming to enhance security and prosperity for both nations (00:12)
• Joe Biden: Met with Putin only once, reflecting a more restrained approach (00:23)

Greg Myre reflects on his meetings with Putin during this period, stating, “I was able to get a sense of his soul. He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue” (00:12).

Despite these efforts, past administrations struggled to steer Russia toward democracy, leading to Russia's expansionist actions, including the wars in Georgia and Ukraine.

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2. The Escalation of the Ukraine Conflict

The episode shifts focus to the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the significant escalation in drone warfare:

Mary Louise Kelly notes, “The Russian president says a military operation is now in eastern Ukraine. Tonight, his troops are holding firm in a corner of Ukraine known as Crimea” (00:59).

Greg Myre explains the surge in drone attacks: “Russia has been learning and is now unleashing large numbers of drones against Ukraine almost every night. Last month, Russia sent an average of more than 200 drones per night” (04:08). On peak nights, attacks have exceeded 700 drones (04:08).

2.1 Development and Deployment of Russian Drones

Omar Algosbi provides insights into Russia's rapid enhancement of its drone capabilities:

• Initially, drones were limited to reconnaissance roles during the early stages of the invasion in February 2022.
• With assistance from France and technological inputs from Iran, Russia transformed these drones from propeller to jet-powered, increasing their speed and range (05:30).
• Mass production facilities, notably in the Republic of Tatarstan, and collaboration with civilian hobbyists have enabled Russia to deploy hundreds of drones nightly (05:51).

Algosbi adds, “Russia has made no secret of it. The Defense Ministry here has run lengthy film documentaries that take viewers really inside the operation. They’re using it as a propaganda tool” (07:44).

2.2 Ukraine's Countermeasures and Offensive Strategies

Greg Myre discusses Ukraine's defensive and offensive strategies:

• Defensive Measures: Ukraine employs a combination of helicopters, fighter jets, electronic jamming, machine guns, ground-launched missiles, and defensive drones to intercept incoming Russian drones. However, the volume of attacks still overwhelms defenses (06:47).

• Offensive Tactics: Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian infrastructure, targeting oil refineries and railway stations to disrupt supply lines. Recently, a significant oil refinery in Volgograd was hit, igniting large fires (08:46).

• Innovation in Defense: There is a push to develop defensive drones capable of intercepting offensive ones, with President Volodymyr Zelensky advocating for the production of a thousand interceptors daily, requiring substantial investment (07:44).

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3. The Trump-Putin Summit in Anchorage

As the episode progresses, focus shifts to the imminent summit between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska:

Mary Louise Kelly describes Anchorage's strategic location, equidistant from Moscow and Washington D.C., setting the stage for the high-profile meeting (03:06).

Greg Myre suggests that Trump is keenly interested in resolving the conflict, stating, “I think he wants to get it done. I really feel he, he wanted the whole thing. I think if it weren't me, it was somebody else, he would be not talking to anybody” (01:30).

The central question posed is whether Trump's personal rapport with Putin can lead to a breakthrough in ending the prolonged and escalating conflict in Ukraine.

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4. Implications for US Drone Warfare Strategy

In a broader context, the episode examines how drone warfare fits into Russia's overall military strategy:

Omar Algosbi shares an anecdote from the Victory Day event in Moscow, highlighting the prominent display of drones alongside traditional military hardware: “This year there was a new addition, a flatbed truck hauling drones across the square” (09:24).

This signifies a shift in Russian military pride, placing drones at the forefront of their strategic capabilities, underscoring their importance in modern warfare.

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5. Conclusion and Future Outlook

Mary Louise Kelly wraps up the episode by emphasizing the high stakes of the Trump-Putin summit and its potential impact on global geopolitics:

• The ability of Trump to negotiate a peace deal could reshape the conflict landscape in Ukraine.
• The ongoing drone arms race underscores the evolving nature of modern warfare and the critical need for innovative defensive and offensive technologies.

Greg Myre and Charles Mains, NPR’s correspondents in Kyiv and Moscow respectively, provide on-the-ground perspectives that enrich the analysis, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the conflict's complexities.

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Notable Quotes

• Greg Myre: “I was able to get a sense of his soul. He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.” (00:12)

• Greg Myre: “Russia has been learning and is now unleashing large numbers of drones against Ukraine almost every night.” (04:08)

• Omar Algosbi: “Russia has made no secret of it. They’re using it as a propaganda tool.” (08:38)

• Greg Myre: “I think he wants to get it done. I really feel he, he wanted the whole thing.” (01:30)

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This episode of Consider This offers an in-depth exploration of the persistent challenges and strategic maneuvers in US-Russia relations, particularly focusing on the potential for diplomatic resolutions amidst ongoing military conflicts. Through expert insights and firsthand accounts, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical tensions shaping our world today.

Transcript

[Mary Louise Kelly]

American presidents have been trying to manage Russian President Vladimir Putin since the beginning of this century. There was George W. Bush who met with Putin 28 times.

[Greg Myre]

I was able to get a sense of his soul. He's a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Barack Obama, he and Putin sat down together nine times. By working together, we not only increase security and prosperity for the Russian and American people, but also help lead the world to a better place. Joe Biden met with Putin only once.

[Greg Myre]

The bottom line is I told President Putin that we need to have some basic rules of the road that we can all abide by.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Past American presidents had hoped to strike deals and push Russia towards a more democratic society. Instead, Russia started wars and tried to expand its borders.

[Greg Myre]

The Russian president says a military operation is now under in eastern Ukraine. Tonight, his troops are holding firm in a corner of Ukraine known as Crimea.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Russia Georgia war, which erupted as a.

[Greg Myre]

Battle for a disputed breakaway region, has.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Fast spilled over into surrounding areas. Soon, President Trump heads here to Alaska for his seventh meeting with Putin. And like his predecessors, he's trying to get something out of Putin. This time he's trying to finally end the war with Ukraine.

[Greg Myre]

I think he wants to get it done. I really feel he, he wanted the whole thing. I think if it weren't me, it was somebody else, he would be not talking to anybody.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Consider this President Trump is trying to leverage his personal relationship with Putin to strike a peace deal. Will he be able to pull it off? From npr, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

[Charles Mains]

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[Mary Louise Kelly]

It's consider this from npr. When you fly to Anchorage, as we just have to cover the Trump Putin summit, you skim low across water and land in a city that is roughly the same distance from Moscow and Washington, D.C. some 4,000 miles and change from each capital. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will be landing to discuss a possible possible end to Russia's war in Ukraine, a war that at the moment is not letting up. In fact, it has seen an increase in drone warfare. NPR is among the few news organizations that still has reporters in both Russia and Ukraine. And we've got them both on the line now to talk through where the war stands as this summit is about to get underway. NPR's Charles Mains in Moscow and Greg Myre in Kyiv. Hi, you two.

[Greg Myre]

Hi, Mary Louise.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Hi there, Greg. I'm going to let you start from there in Kyiv and just get us up to speed with the nature of the conflict and how it has been changed by drones.

[Greg Myre]

Well, Ukraine, from the very beginning of this war has used the drones very creatively and effectively in ways we'd never seen before to neutralize Russia and its much larger and more powerful traditional military. But after being on the receiving end for a few years, Russia has been learning and is now unleashing large numbers of drones against Ukraine almost every night. You know, prior to this year, Russia might fire a couple dozen drones on a typical night, but that's now rising dramatically. Last month, Russia sent an average of more than 200 drones into Ukraine per night. On the most intense night, Ukraine faced more than 700 drones. And these drones are dangerous on their own, but they also occupy the Ukrainian air defenses, and that helps clear the way for larger, more powerful Russian missiles that often come shortly after afterward.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And Charles, jump in from Moscow. How did Russia develop this capacity seemingly quite quickly to turn out so many drones?

[Omar Algosbi]

Yeah, you know, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in or full scale invasion of Ukraine In February of 2022, Russia had drones that were good for reconnaissance or intelligence gathering, but there weren't many of them and they certainly weren't part of the Russian war plan. That's since changed thanks initially to France in some unusual places, says Omar Algosbi of the center for Advanced Defense Systems in Washington.

[Greg Myre]

So if you are looking to procure drones, what better actor to go to than the Iranians who have demonstrated they have the capability to produce such weapon systems for low cost and despite having significant sanctions put on the country for the last several decades.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

So Introducing the outsized influence of other actors such as Iran. Charles, how much have Iranian drones? How much have they changed Russia's strategy?

[Omar Algosbi]

Well, they helped with the war planning, but there was a problem. There weren't enough of them. So Sometime around late 2022, Russia acquired the technology and started modifying them. They became jet instead of propeller powered, and that meant they could fly faster and farther. And then Russia started to produce them in mass, most notoriously in a facility in the Republic of Tatarstan. But that's only part of it. You know, the Russian government is also recruiting civilian hobbyists to develop their own models. Some have been approved with seed funding from their defense ministry to scale up. And that plant in Tat Katarstan I mentioned, it includes a polytech school that recruits high school students and foreigners for work study programs. And so altogether, instead of just a couple drones or a couple dozen drones, Russia can now unleash hundreds in a night and often does, as Greg mentioned.

[Greg Myre]

And Charles, here in Ukraine, the military acknowledges that it's very difficult to deal with this Russian onslaught. We sat down this week with Ukraine's Air force spokesman, Yuri Enat. So he's saying here that Ukraine destroys incoming drones with helicopters, fighter jets, electronic jamming machine guns, missiles fired from the ground, but some Russian drones still get through. Now, perhaps the most promising technology is using defensive drones to take down incoming offensive drones. And this looks to be the next big innovation in drone warfare. Ukraine already has these defensive drones or drone interceptors, but supplies are limited, limited. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited a plant and said Ukraine needs to build a thousand of them a day, though it will take several billion dollars of investment to meet this target.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

So that's what Ukraine's doing. But Charles, back to you. What is the quality of all of these drones that Russia is putting into the fight?

[Omar Algosbi]

Well, they're not cutting edge, but they're up to the task. Moreover, Russians are getting more creative. You know, for example, they're deploying drones attached to fiber optic cables, a communications line which keeps Ukraine from jamming the drone electron. Now, of course, such fiber optic drones can only go as far as their cable is long, so they're not great for distances, but it's effective in frontline areas, so much so that the battlefield photos will show land strewn with these cables, almost like tangled fishing lines. And I want to stress that the reason we know any of this is because Russia has made no secret of it. You know, the Defense Ministry here has run lengthy film documentaries that take viewers really inside the operation. And why, I suppose, is because it's a propaganda tool. They're proud of what they've accomplished with these drones and a relatively, relatively short period of time.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And Greg, we've been talking about Ukraine's drone defenses. What about the other side of it? What is the country doing on offense?

[Greg Myre]

Well, Ukraine is striking almost daily deep inside Russia. In fact, the military said today it hit a large oil refinery in Volgograd in southern Russia, igniting a big fire. And this is an important plant, and it's been hit several times. Now. This is very much in line with Ukraine's recent focus on oil facilities and railway stations, parts of Russia's transportation network that takes ammunition and other supplies to Russian troops.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Charles, last word to you, and I wonder if you would go big picture for US Drone warfare. How does it fit into the overall military approach from Russia these days?

[Omar Algosbi]

Well, I think you can tell it with an anecdote. You know, this past May, I was on Red Square for the annual Victory Day event celebrating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, and there was a striking moment. You know, we're all used to seeing these Russian tanks and troops and ICBM missiles in this par, and that's really the pantheon of Russian pride and military might. Well, this year there was a new addition, a flatbeg truck hauling drones across the square.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Those were my NPR colleagues, Russia correspondent Charles Mains in Moscow and national security correspondent Greg Myri in Kyiv. They are two of the many NPR reporters who will be joining me on our new podcast, Sources and Methods. Every Thursday, we'll do a deep dive on the biggest national security stories stories of the week. Our goal is to help you understand what is happening in the centers of power in Washington and around the world and how events like a summit here in Anchorage may affect you. I hope you'll join us for Sources and Methods when it premieres August 28, and then every week after. You can find it then on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Catherine Fink, Megan Lim and Matt Ozug. It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Patrick Jaranwadanan and Andrew Sussman. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

[Greg Myre]

On the next through line from NPR.

[Charles Mains]

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[Greg Myre]

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[Charles Mains]

The 25th Amendment listen in the NPR app or Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

There'S a lot of news happening. You want to understand it better, but let's be honest, you don't want it to be your entire life, either. Well, that's sort of like our show Here and Now Anytime. Every weekday on our podcast, we talk to people all over the country about everything from political analysis to climate resilience, video games. We even talk about dumpster diving on this show. Check out Here and Now Anytime, a daily podcast from NPR and wbur.

[Charles Mains]

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