Trump and Ukraine, Kremlin's View, California Redistricting

Summary

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Up First from NPR

Episode: Trump and Ukraine, Kremlin’s View, California Redistricting

Date: August 19, 2025
Hosts: Leila Fadel, Amy Martinez

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Episode Overview

This episode covers three major news stories:

1. President Trump's efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, including direct talks involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
2. The Kremlin’s perspective on recent negotiations, particularly regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and the possibility of Western troops or military aid.
3. The intensifying fight over congressional redistricting, with Texas and California locked in a political chess match expected to reshape the balance of power in the U.S. House.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Push for Ukraine Peace Talks

Segment Start: [03:04]

• Announcement of Talks:
  • Trump is organizing a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a trilateral conversation including himself. Date and place are yet to be determined.
  • Trump’s message (via Truth Social) came after a high-level White House meeting with Zelenskyy and seven European leaders.
• Momentum from the White House:
  • The meeting led to a sense of "momentum" towards peace, with Trump claiming Putin is amenable to direct talks and potential agreements.
• Security Guarantees for Ukraine:
  • European and Ukrainian leaders seek guarantees to deter future Russian invasions.
  • Trump: “A guarantee would involve, as he put it, coordination from the US but he didn't say specifically what that would mean.” [04:45]
  • Discussions are in early stages, with details scarce.
• Ceasefire and Prisoners:
  • Ukraine and European allies want a ceasefire before any further talks.
  • Trump is now less insistent on an immediate ceasefire, suggesting talks towards a comprehensive deal may proceed without one.
  • The issue of returning Ukrainian prisoners (including children) held in Russia was discussed; Trump claims Putin is open to it.
• Land Concessions:
  • Trump suggested talks over territory should be based on the “current line of contact,” a sensitive issue as Russia wants more of Ukraine’s east and still holds Crimea.

Notable Quote:

“We're going to work with Ukraine, we're going to work with everybody, and we're going to make sure that if there's peace, the peace is going to stay long term.”
— Donald Trump [03:34]

Tone & Atmosphere:
The summit was highly formal; Trump and Zelenskyy kept it civil, with Zelenskyy notably deferential—no public arguments.

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2. Kremlin’s View of Negotiations

Segment Start: [06:54]

• Security Guarantees:
  • The West sees them as key; Trump claims Putin may accept them, possibly with Europe taking “a lot of the burden” and unspecified American support.
  • Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s intent to purchase $100 billion in U.S. weapons for defense.
• Russian Caution and Red Lines:
  • Russia categorically rules out European troops on Ukrainian soil and is hostile to any NATO Article 5-like guarantees.
  • Putin prefers negotiations over details, which may slow or stall the process.
• Direct Talks:
  • Following a 40-minute Trump-Putin call, it’s confirmed:
    • Russia seeks a one-on-one meeting (Putin/Zelenskyy) before a trilateral session with Trump.
    • High-stakes issues (land, prisoners, abducted children) to be discussed at the leader level.
  • German Chancellor suggested a meeting could occur by month’s end.

Notable Quotes:

“One thing we've seen time and time again is that Trump is moving fast and operating in broad agreements, whereas Putin likes to zero in on details which slows the process down. Critics would say by design so the fighting can continue.”
— Charles Maynes, NPR Moscow Correspondent [09:34]

“This idea of European troops on the ground in Ukraine… Russia has ruled that out categorically.”
— Charles Maynes [09:40]

Tone & Atmosphere:
Deep skepticism from Russian analysts and nationalists regarding Putin’s willingness or ability to accept Western conditions.

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3. Texas and California Battle over Redistricting

Segment Start: [10:35]

• Texas:

  • Democrats ended a two-week walkout, returning to fight congressional maps that favor Republicans.
  • With their return, the GOP-favored map is back in play, prompting cheers from supporters.

• California:

  • Democrats released a counter map to offset Texas gains, aiming to “flip” 5 GOP-held districts by combining diverse regions (e.g., Modoc County with Marin County).
  • The map will go before voters in November; Democrats expect to pass the proposal thanks to a supermajority.

• Republican Response:

  • Strong opposition: Republicans accuse Democrats of undermining California’s independent redistricting commission.
  • Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher:

    “We should not abandon the principle of fair and independent redistricting here in California just for political expediency. But that is exactly what these maps do.” [12:22]

  • Some Republican districts, including Kevin Kiley’s in Sacramento, are directly threatened by the proposal.
  • Kiley introduces national legislation to ban mid-decade redistricting.

• What’s Next:

  • Quick timeline: legislature must pass bill this week for November vote.
  • Democrats pledged to drop their map if Texas and red states do likewise.
  • Lawsuits by Republicans are expected.

• Californian Public Opinion:

  • Early polling indicates a slight majority in favor, but it’s “still very early in the process.”

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Zelenskyy’s Deference:
  “You did not have Zelensky and Trump get into any arguments. In fact, this meeting, Zelensky seemed to be deliberately showing deference, thanking Trump repeatedly. He also wore a suit, which is something that Trump said that he liked.”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR [06:35]

• On the Redistricting Strategies:
  “Those are two very politically different regions. And under this proposal, they'd have the same congressional representative.”
  — Laura Fitzgerald, CAP Radio [11:18]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:04 — Trump reveals latest plans for Ukraine peace talks
• 04:45 — Security guarantees and military aid for Ukraine
• 05:34 — Ceasefire debate and land concessions
• 06:54 — Kremlin’s view: security guarantees and red lines
• 09:34 — Putin’s negotiation style and skepticism in Russia
• 10:35 — Redistricting battles: Texas Democrats return, California map released
• 11:18 — Details of California’s new map; impact on GOP districts
• 12:22 — Republican leader criticizes California proposal
• 13:02 — Next steps, polling, and legal fights over California’s map

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Summary

This Up First episode delivers concise, high-stakes reporting on U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace talks (with a focus on Trump’s and the Kremlin’s evolving positions), explores how each side views proposed security arrangements, and breaks down the increasingly aggressive redistricting moves in Texas and California that could shape Congress for years to come. The hosts provide clear analysis of both domestic and international maneuvering, marked by skepticism, political calculation, and a focus on process as much as outcomes.

Transcript

[Amy Martinez]

I was convinced yesterday that yesterday was Tuesday, but today is Tuesday.

[Leila Fadel]

I can confirm today is Tuesday.

[Amy Martinez]

Thank you. That's why you do the news.

[Leila Fadel]

Fresh off two high stakes summits, President Trump is planning more to try and end the war in Ukraine.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to make sure that if there's peace, the peace is going to stay long term.

[Amy Martinez]

Can this series of meetings lead to viable peace?

[Leila Fadel]

I'm Imma Martinez. That's Leila Fadel. And this is up first from NPR News. Moscow is keeping a close eye on the discussions which crossed some Russian red lines, such as having European troops in Ukraine to provide security guarantees. So how might President Vladimir Putin react to the latest developments?

[Amy Martinez]

And Texans cheered Democrats who threw a wrench in efforts backed by Trump to redraw the congressional map. Can the Democrats succeed in stalling sweeping changes that would favor Republicans in the midterms? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

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[Amy Martinez]

Today, President Trump has revealed his latest plans to end the war in Ukraine.

[Leila Fadel]

In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said he was setting up a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that would then be followed by talks between the two leaders and Trump. Now, the date and location are still unclear. That message followed a meeting at the White House on Monday where Trump hosted Zelenskyy and seven European leaders to make progress on ending Russia launched in Ukraine.

[Donald Trump]

But we're going to work with Ukraine, we're going to work with everybody, and we're going to make sure that if there's peace, the peace is going to stay long term.

[Leila Fadel]

You remember just days earlier, Trump met Putin in Alaska.

[Amy Martinez]

NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben has been following all of this and is here to break it down for us. Good morning, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Hey, good morning.

[Amy Martinez]

So what stood out to you with these White House broker talks?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, first of all, it's just remarkable to have such a big group of world leaders come together on short notice, no less. And those leaders, they talked for hours. Yesterday, Trump and Zelensky met on their own, and then the other European leaders joined for talks. It was a scheduled meeting in the East Room that then carried on later in the Oval Office. One other thing that stands out to me, though, now that it's over, is that the White House is trying to create the sense of momentum here. Immediately afterwards, Trump said he spoke with Putin and that he had already started planning for Putin and Zelensky to beat face to face. And that trilateral meeting you mentioned.

[Amy Martinez]

Okay, and Ukraine and Europe want security guarantees to keep the peace in Ukraine if there's a deal. What progress did the leaders make on that?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, we know leaders discussed this afterward. Trump said a guarantee would involve, as he put it, coordination from the US but he didn't say specifically what that would mean. It's hard to know what to think of that without details. Trump also said yesterday that Putin is open to a guarantee, but again, we don't know what Russia is open to here. So a lot is up in the air there. But another thing, though, leaders discussed is the return of Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia, including children. And Trump said he thinks Putin is open to that.

[Amy Martinez]

Danielle, another central issue here is a ceasefire. At first, President Trump was pushing for an immediate cease fire before any talks. Then he did an about face after his meeting with Putin. And now he's been saying that he thinks they should just get into talks to work out a full peace deal. Did we hear more about this?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

We heard a bit. We heard that Ukraine wants a ceasefire before further talks. And you did have Chancellor Merz of Germany and French President Macron really push for that. Now, without a ceasefire, Ukraine is concerned that Russia could drag out the war, continuing its attacks on Ukraine even as peace deal talks continue. Trump, for his part, though, said yesterday that he doesn't oppose a ceasefire, but also that it's not necessary.

[Amy Martinez]

And what about the issue of land? Did the leaders discuss the possibility of Ukraine giving up land that Russia illegally took or occupies?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, at least in their public remarks, Trump was the only one who mentioned it, saying that Ukraine and Russia needed to talk about that based on the, quote, current line of contact. Now, land is a very contentious issue in these talks. Russia already annexed Crimea in 2014 and now wants more of eastern Ukraine, which Zelensky opposes.

[Amy Martinez]

Speaking of contentious issues, I didn't see the berating of Zelensky that we saw back in February when he came to the White House.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Right. Yes. You did not have Zelensky and Trump get into any arguments. In fact, this meeting, Zelensky seemed to be deliberately showing deference, thanking Trump repeatedly. He also wore a suit, which is something that Trump said that he liked.

[Amy Martinez]

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben. Thank you, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Yeah, thank you.

[Amy Martinez]

Now we turn to Moscow to hear how the negotiations might look to Russian eyes.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Leila Fadel]

As we heard, President Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy discuss whether Western powers could provide any security guarantees to guard against another Russian invasion.

[Amy Martinez]

Joining us to talk about what was agreed to is NPR's Russia correspondent, Charles Mainz. Good morning, Charles.

[Charles Maynes]

Morning, Leila.

[Amy Martinez]

Okay, let's start with this idea of security guarantees for Ukraine. How can we expect that will be received by the Kremlin?

[Charles Maynes]

You know, well, hammering out the contours of these security agreements for Ukraine is seen by the west as key to any future peace deal. And Trump began by saying that Putin was on board with it.

[Donald Trump]

In a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine. And this is one of the key points that we need to consider.

[Charles Maynes]

And now Trump has said that that could involve Europe taking on a Lot of the burden. That's a quote. But with some American support which is obviously quite vague. So we heard several proposals out yesterday. Some ARG argued that Ukraine should have been, should have what's called NATO like Article 5 protections. The idea that an armed attack against one would be considered an attack against all. Others were calling for Western boots on the ground as peace monitors. But would that include for example American troops? We don't know at this point. One slightly more concrete security guarantee. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine confirmed that a Financial Times report that Kyiv wants to buy 100 billion that's with a b dollars in American weapons for its own future defense.

[Amy Martinez]

Now Trump and Zelenskyy are call talks with Vladimir Putin. What's the Kremlin saying?

[Charles Maynes]

Yeah, you know, as Danielle mentioned in the middle of yesterday's talks, Trump broke off for a phone call in Moscow with Putin where Trump says Putin agreed to meet with Zelensky. And also in this trilateral meeting now late last night, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Putin and Trump had talked for some 40 minutes. And Ushakov said, and I'll quote here, the possibility of raising the level of direct contacts between Moscow and Kiev was discussed. So you can take that however you like. Zelensky later gave his version in more succinct terms. Let's listen. So here Zelensky said Russia had called for a one on one meeting with Putin and Zelensky before a follow on meeting that would include Trump as well. And Zelensky had accepted, he said that on the level, only on the level of leaders could the most painful important issues be discussed. And this presumably would mean these discussions about possible future land concessions or swaps in President Trump's words, as well as the return of prisoners and children abducted by Russia. But in terms of when, where, that's all to be determined. Germany chancellor said it could happen by the end of the month.

[Amy Martinez]

And how do you see these demands going over in Moscow?

[Charles Maynes]

Well, you know, as we heard Trump says Putin is open to security guarantees for Ukraine. But I think one thing we've seen time and time again is that Trump is moving fast and operating in broad agreements, whereas Putin likes to zero in on details which slows the process down. Critics would say by design so the fighting can continue. I will say I heard a lot of red lines from Russian red lines in the discussions in Washington yesterday. You know, this idea of European troops on the ground in Ukraine. Well, Russia has ruled that out categorically. Talk of Article 5 like status for Ukraine. Well Ukraine's desire to join NATO was one of the reasons Putin launched the full scale invasion in the first place. And even Zelenskyy's calls for arms sales would seem to fly in the face of Putin's demands for Ukraine's demilitarization. So we'll see. But there's a lot of skepticism here, both from analysts and even pro war nationalists, that Putin would or even could bend on these issues.

[Amy Martinez]

That's NPR's Charles mainnes in Moscow. Thank you, Charles.

[Charles Maynes]

Thank you.

[Leila Fadel]

The national fight over redistricting is escalating and lawmakers in Texas and California are back to work in their state capitals.

[Amy Martinez]

Texas Democrats returned after fleeing the state for two weeks. They were stalling a newly drawn congressional map driven by President Trump. It was loud yesterday as they entered the House chambers in Austin and supporters cheered them on.

[Leila Fadel]

One reason they're back. California Democrats from the Golden State have released a map to counter Texas. It could lead to five more Democratic seats in the US House to offset the expected five new Republican seats in Texas. With us this morning to break it all down is Laura Fitzgerald with CAP Radio in Sacramento. So, Laura, what do we know so far about the new map in California?

[Laura Fitzgerald]

So like you mentioned, a it aims to flip five congressional districts that Republicans hold in California and it puts together somewhat unlikely areas. For example, one district would include communities in Modoc county all the way up north near the Oregon border with Marin county, which is way down near San Francisco. Those are two very politically different regions. And under this proposal, they'd have the same congressional representative. Democrats here say the plan is to vote on the map this week and then this will go to the voters so that they can have the final say in November.

[Leila Fadel]

Yeah, Modoc and Marin are as different as anything could possibly be. So, okay, how are Republicans responding?

[Laura Fitzgerald]

Well, Republicans strongly oppose the measure. And just some context here, the reason why California is going to the voters is because the independent redistricting commission that we have here is in our state constitution. So Republicans are criticizing Democrats for sidelining that. Here's the Assembly's Republican minority leader, James Gallagher talking about that at a press conference at the Capitol yesterday.

[Amy Martinez]

We should not abandon the principle of fair and independent redistricting here in California just for political expediency. But that is exactly what these maps do.

[Laura Fitzgerald]

California's Republican congressional delegation has also spoken out against the bill. Republicans hold nine out of the state's 52 congressional seats. One of them is Congressman Kevin Kiley. He's actually introduced legislation in Congress to ban mid decade redistricting nationwide that would include the GOP led effort in Texas. Important to note here also that his district east of Sacramento is one of the five that could become bluer under the proposal.

[Leila Fadel]

Yeah. So what are you watching next?

[Laura Fitzgerald]

Well, this proposal's on a tight timeline. The new map was just released late last week on Friday evening, and the measure was formally introduced yesterday at the Capitol. In order to get this in front of voters in November, lawmakers have to pass the bill by a two thirds vote this week. Democrats do hold a super majority in California's state legislature, so that passage is likely after that. But voters will weigh in on November 4th. Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers and the state's organized labor leaders, they've already launched a campaign for the measure urging voters to support it before lawmakers have even sent it to the ballot. And meanwhile, Republicans are threatening to file lawsuits challenging the ballot measure. And one more thing, Democrats hear say they will back down on the redistricting fight if Texas and other red states do, too.

[Leila Fadel]

Any indication about how California voters feel about this?

[Laura Fitzgerald]

You know, there's some early polling out there that shows that there's a slight majority of Californians that do view this favorably, but it's still very early in the process.

[Leila Fadel]

All right. That's Laura Fitzgerald, political reporter with CAP Radio in Sacramento.

[Charles Maynes]

Laura, thanks.

[Laura Fitzgerald]

Thank you.

[Amy Martinez]

A. And that's up first for Tuesday, August 19th.

[Leila Fadel]

I'm Laila Falden and Amy Martinez, NPR, brings you stories from across the country. Thanks to NPR station reporters in your community and many others. Keep that network strong. Visit donate.NPR.org UPverse to contribute.

[Amy Martinez]

Why do I keep hearing B when you say npr? Like npr?

[Leila Fadel]

Like you're my Did I say npr?

[Amy Martinez]

Today's episode of up first was edited by Roberta Rampton, Rylan Barton, Acacia Squires, Olivia Hampton and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us again tomorrow.

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