Michael Barbaro

You know, he says that maybe others could help out, but that it just might not be worth it to try to make this deal.

Well, it's always hard to know with Trump. That would seem to be the implication. On the other hand, Trump has invested a lot of time and a fair amount of political capital into this process. And he's come up completely empty-handed. So, you know, is he really serious? Is he really ready to walk away? And even if he does, that raises an entirely new set of questions about where he goes from here.

Well, it's always hard to know with Trump. That would seem to be the implication. On the other hand, Trump has invested a lot of time and a fair amount of political capital into this process. And he's come up completely empty-handed. So, you know, is he really serious? Is he really ready to walk away? And even if he does, that raises an entirely new set of questions about where he goes from here.

Well, the U.S. continues to provide Ukraine with some assistance that was previously approved by Congress under the Biden administration. and continues to provide intelligence sharing to Ukraine, which is really, really important because we have such a sophisticated intelligence infrastructure.

Well, the U.S. continues to provide Ukraine with some assistance that was previously approved by Congress under the Biden administration. and continues to provide intelligence sharing to Ukraine, which is really, really important because we have such a sophisticated intelligence infrastructure.

So this means, among other things, our satellites, which can see Russian positions and other sources of intelligence we have on Russia's military plans and operations. Hugely important to Ukraine. The question is... What will happen a few weeks and months from now if Trump decides he wants to wash his hands of these negotiations? Would he cut off the intelligence assistance?

So this means, among other things, our satellites, which can see Russian positions and other sources of intelligence we have on Russia's military plans and operations. Hugely important to Ukraine. The question is... What will happen a few weeks and months from now if Trump decides he wants to wash his hands of these negotiations? Would he cut off the intelligence assistance?

Will he, in his budget request to Congress, ask for more support for Ukraine, either military or economic? And if not, to what degree could Europe fill the gap? Most analysts say that Europe can do a fair amount, but not enough to prevent Ukraine's position from being severely weakened over time. And this, by the way, is exactly why

Will he, in his budget request to Congress, ask for more support for Ukraine, either military or economic? And if not, to what degree could Europe fill the gap? Most analysts say that Europe can do a fair amount, but not enough to prevent Ukraine's position from being severely weakened over time. And this, by the way, is exactly why

Many people believe this is what Putin has wanted all along, for Trump to grow impatient, to give up, to walk away. And that gives Russia a major military advantage. And Putin can just take what he wants eventually.

Many people believe this is what Putin has wanted all along, for Trump to grow impatient, to give up, to walk away. And that gives Russia a major military advantage. And Putin can just take what he wants eventually.

Look, I think that every world leader is watching this process and trying to figure out how Trump operates. But I think that this Ukraine saga has reinforced some constants with Donald Trump that world leaders will be paying very close attention to. One of them is that what animates Trump possibly more than anything else is the desire to cut a deal.

Look, I think that every world leader is watching this process and trying to figure out how Trump operates. But I think that this Ukraine saga has reinforced some constants with Donald Trump that world leaders will be paying very close attention to. One of them is that what animates Trump possibly more than anything else is the desire to cut a deal.

And sometimes it may not even be a very real deal. It may be something that he's able to call a great deal that doesn't have a lot of substance to it. And so you've seen both Zelensky and Putin play to that. I also think that this shows that Trump can be a very intimidating person. bully, particularly on social media or in press conferences with reporters.

And sometimes it may not even be a very real deal. It may be something that he's able to call a great deal that doesn't have a lot of substance to it. And so you've seen both Zelensky and Putin play to that. I also think that this shows that Trump can be a very intimidating person. bully, particularly on social media or in press conferences with reporters.

But what happened when he was face to face or on the phone with those guys? He didn't threaten them. He didn't bluster and bully by any account. And I think what that tells you is that Trump says a lot of things for public consumption. He likes to posture a lot and talk tough. But ultimately, and particularly if it's in the service of cutting a deal,

But what happened when he was face to face or on the phone with those guys? He didn't threaten them. He didn't bluster and bully by any account. And I think what that tells you is that Trump says a lot of things for public consumption. He likes to posture a lot and talk tough. But ultimately, and particularly if it's in the service of cutting a deal,

it doesn't mean that that's where his head is really at or that he's going to let those resentments get in the way of what he perceives to be his tactical interest at any given moment.

it doesn't mean that that's where his head is really at or that he's going to let those resentments get in the way of what he perceives to be his tactical interest at any given moment.

I think that's right. Now, I've heard people say that Trump came into this second term riding higher, feeling stronger and He had been around the block once before as president, and he may have thought he could come in and get things done really fast in a way that he couldn't do in his first term.