Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting

Ukraine: Possibility and peril as Trump pushes for Putin-Zelenskiy meeting

Author: The Irish Times August 19, 2025 Duration: 44:24

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Monday’s summit at the White House with US president Donald Trump as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years and towards setting up a trilateral meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and Trump in the coming weeks.


The meeting, attended by European leaders as well as Zelenskiy and Trump, resulted in one potentially major win for Ukraine: Trump's suggestion the US could play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine in a post-war era.


But how reliable is Trump’s support, and what would such security guarantees look like?


Eastern Europe correspondent Dan McLaughlin and Europe correspondent Jack Power join Hugh to talk about the details of the discussions and why the path towards any sort of peace deal remains difficult and unpredictable.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each week, Irish Times Inside Politics cuts through the noise to bring clarity to the forces shaping Ireland. Guided by host Hugh Linehan, the conversations here go beyond the headlines, offering a deeper, more considered understanding of the political landscape. You’ll hear from the newspaper’s own journalists, who provide grounded insight from the front lines, alongside a range of independent political thinkers and analysts. Occasionally, politicians themselves join the discussion, offering their perspective directly. The result is a nuanced and thoughtful examination of power, policy, and public life that values context over quick reactions. This isn't about partisan soundbites; it's about unpacking the how and why behind the day's debates and long-term shifts. For anyone looking to move past surface-level reporting and grasp the real stories unfolding in Leinster House and beyond, this podcast serves as an essential weekly briefing. The Irish Times brings its tradition of thorough journalism to the audio format, creating a space for analysis that is both accessible and substantive. Tune in for a consistently informed and engaging take on the issues that define the nation's future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Irish Times Inside Politics
Podcast Episodes
American carnage: Keith Duggan at the Ryder Cup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:26
Fresh from the hostile grass arena of Bethpage, where supporters of the US Ryder Cup team spent the weekend abusing their European opponents, Washington correspondent Keith Duggan returns to the podcast to discuss the la…
Presidential debate: who came out on top and who struggled? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:16
Pat Leahy joins Hugh to talk about the first televised debate of the presidential campaign which took place on Virgin Media Television tonight. Independent Catherine Connolly, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fái…
Lea Ypi investigates a family mystery and hidden history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:44
Hugh interviews Albanian academic and author Lea Ypi about her new book Indignity: A Life Reimagined. The book is an exploration of political, historical and philosophical themes through the story of Ypi's grandmother, L…
Maria Steen falls at the final hurdle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how independent candidate Maria Steen came close but ultimately failed to secure a nomination to run for the presidency. Why did the coalition that supported her take so…
What our 'Charlie versus Garret' series got wrong - with Eoin O'Malley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:59
Last year The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast released a three-part series looking back at the political rivalry between Charles Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald.That series helped to inspire DCU’s Eoin O’Malley as he s…
Can Sheridan or Steen get a presidential nomination over the line? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:25
Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chan…