Judging Freedom - Alastair Crooke : Why Trump Abandoned His Ceasefire Demands.

Episode Date: August 18, 2025

Alastair Crooke : Why Trump Abandoned His Ceasefire Demands.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. Thank you. Hi, everyone, Judge Andrew Napolitano here for Judging Freedom. Today is Monday, August 18th, August 18th, where is the summer gone? 2025. Alster Crook will be here with us in just a moment with his analysis. What happened in Alaska on Friday?

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and today we need that protection more than ever. Call Lear Capital Now at 800511-4620 or visit Learjudsonap.com. No one is going to protect your wealth for you. You need to do it yourself. And now is the time. Alster Crook, welcome here, my dear friend. Was there a clear winner and clear loser to whatever happened in Alaska on Friday? Oh, very clearly, yes.

Because always in terms, and I made this point, I made it to Senator George Mitchell when he was in Ireland and afterwards in the Middle East. And I said, you know, there's no politics can begin until each side it says that it can understand and accept the narrative of the other. Now, that's what's happened. This is so important that for the first time, Russia's narrative was being listened to and treated with respect. But first of all, I mean, this is something we discovered long ago. but, you know, you can say to the other side, look, I don't agree with your version of history. I don't agree with your vision of the future.

But now, finally, I accept that what you have is a legitimate perspective of your community, of your people. Only at that point does politics become possible. When you refuse, when you deny that there is another point of view, When you deny there is another, if you like, perspective, which has validity, at least for their people, and that they respect your perspective or accept that you have one. Even if neither side agree on a common position on this, this is the breakthrough. This was the breakthrough in Ireland and elsewhere. Only then can politics become possible when both sides agree that the other side does have a point of view,

and it is one that is valid within its own circumstances. I think that was a crucial, absolutely crucial shift that took place because Trump listened and Putin had the ability to put to him another perspective, and he listened to that. The other thing that was really crucial was the symbolism. I mean, the extraordinary symbolism. You know, Russia has been isolated, it is a war criminal, all of this stuff. And there it was, you know, actually, how often has Trump actually met a visitor on the tar map

and escorted him from the aircraft to his car? I mean, this is unprecedented. And quite clearly, they met in friendly circumstances. It was clear there was a rapport that there was an ability to talk to each other. And that's very important. There was the ability to speak to each other. That was obvious even on the tarmac that they respected each other and that they could listen. And there was good empathy, if you like, between the two.

And of course, the outcome was extremely important. Of course, it's early days now, hugely important, because what we had was a complete change in the situation. This is really the beginning of something, not the end of something. This is the beginning of the end of perhaps in due course. But the deal. What was the deal? Well, everyone's saying, well, there wasn't a deal.

There was a deal, but it's not the one that everyone is talking about. The deal was that Kellogg's frozen conflict ceasefire is out, gone. That's not there anymore. Instead, what is being talked about and what is in is Putin's peace plan, the peace plan dealing with, if you like, the big issues. of the issue. And also, there were no talk of tariffs, no talk of security guarantees. Yes, there's all sorts of noise today and yesterday about security guarantees. But, you know, that wasn't said by any Russian in their description of the discussion or the

others. So what is, what has Trump got out of it? Well, Trump has got out of it. Well, Trump has got out of, I, out of this, I think, very clearly an advantage. And the advantage is that Russia is going to force the European Union and Zelensky to peace. He's going to force it by military means, by the use of military force, that they will be ultimately have to come to terms with peace. So this is a new path ahead.

This is important that it is done like this. And I think it's quite clear that Trump, it's quite simple in some ways. Trump does not want to escalate with the EU. He doesn't want to escalate inside domestically within America. And so he's content, I think. And this is my speculation, but I think he's content to let Putin take the EU there to face the military realities of the situation in Ukraine. And also, it's obvious there really are realities.

You probably understood that just before the talks, Russia took out all the Sapsan missile production that was taking place. This was really a German long-range Taurus missile, 5 to 800 kilometers range. that was being built in Ukraine so the Germans could say they weren't giving it directly to them. But that's been destroyed. So what military forces has Europe got to apply

if terror is pulling out of it? It hasn't. So this is the deal, in a sense, it was. The US exit exits the Ukraine and the EU basically has to put up or shut up. And really, it hasn't got much to put up with.

I mean, it hasn't got the means to do anything, really, about it. And so in a sense, this is, I think the understanding, perhaps they reached this when they were sitting together in the presidential car, the beast, I think it's called, when they were alone together. And I think, I don't know, probably Trump said, listen, I want to get out of this. I want to get out of this and maybe you can help us get out of this too. And we will, you know, we'll do our part with the Europeans and we'll do our part as best we can with the pressures that are on me to try and find a way in which you can bring about a solution through force, military force, to the point at which the EU and Zelensky really don't have any choice. And there is a deal and there is a template.

People don't talk about it, but it's Istanbul Plus is a tempate. Yes, yes. That's why Istanbul Plus includes security guarantees for Ukraine. Russian security guarantees for Ukraine, with others involved in the original one in 22. This was the agreement reached in Istanbul in April of 22. And China was to be another guarantor of this process. So, you know, all of this noise and kaffel, I mean, it's all in the Istanbul. Of course, you know, the first point was, you know,

to get to the point where both sides understood each had their view. And they may not be, at the moment, they may be miles apart. But that is the beginning of politics. Now politics has to follow that. We have to see what happens and where it goes. So as I read you, and I'm going to play a little clip from the core of what President Putin said in Alaska. You are praising President Trump for his audacity, good audacity, to sit down, meet with and listen to the Russians, something that hadn't happened since the early days of Biden's presidency.

And your praiseworthy of President Putin for sticking to his guns, so to speak, does seem as though General Kellogg and the neocons have been thrown aside. but I'll ask you about that in just a minute. First, however, Chris, President Putin in Alaska, cut number 12. The situation in Ukraine has to do with fundamental threats to our security. Moreover, we've always considered the Ukrainian nation, and I've said it multiple times a brotherly nation, how strange it may sound in these conditions. We have the same roots, and everything that's happening

is a tragedy for us and terrible wound. Therefore, the country is sincerely interested in putting in an end to it. At the same time, we're convinced that in order to make the settlement lasting and long term, we need to eliminate all the primary roots, the primary causes of that conflict. And we've said it multiple times to consider all legitimate concerns of Russia and to reinstate a just balance of security in Europe and in the world on the whole. And I agree with President Trump, as he has said today, that naturally the security, of Ukraine should be ensured as well.

Naturally, we are prepared to work on that. I'm going to guess, just a guess, I'd like to know if you agree with me, that President Putin gave a lecture to the Americans, not unlike the first long answer he gave in his interview with Tucker Carlson, where he addressed, and I'm now using President Putin's own words,

the genesis and the causes of the Ukrainian crisis and that that might have been the first time that Donald Trump heard that version of events because he's not going to get it and surely didn't get it from the neocons with which he surrounds himself.

Absolutely correct. And what was not picked up so much in that interview with Tucker Carlson was that Putin said, listen, we offered an exit from this canal. We offered that in April 22. We were negotiating that, and that was stopped dead.

And what we'd have to find now is a suitable exit from this process, one that America can live with, Russia can live with Ukraine, and we have to find an exit, a decent exit from the process. So you asked me the question. So why did, you know, why did Trump do this? Why suddenly after seemingly trying to avoid the Ukraine issue because it was so, if you like, difficult and so intractable, does he suddenly dash off or send Wickhoff dashing off to Moscow and say, can we have a meeting as soon as possible? And I think, again, Michael Wolfe, who has been talking to all his old friends in the White House, he's the author.

responsible for a number of books on Trump, said, look, you know, what was going on in the White House in that week leading up to the Whitkoff visit was Trump was saying, look, you know, how do we, how do we get out? I want to find, deal with this Epstein problem. It just keeps coming back. I mean, during that week, there was a book that was published with a sensation in Britain about Prince Andrew and his sort of predilection, sexual predations, and his financial affairs. But it also showed the connection, it repeated the connection between Trump and Epstein, which maddened, you know, maddened Trump, who said, no, I don't have anything to do with Prince Andrew. Well, there are masses of photographs that he did. And this is what the, and the

is what? And then we had, of course, Malania does a lawsuit saying that, no, Epstein didn't introduce me to Trump. So all of this is really irritating and he wants to try and get out. And so he suddenly decided, look, I'm just going to, I'm going to do it. I'm pull out. I'm going to do it. I'm going to try and get out. I'm going to do this thing. I'm going to have to do. This is what Wolf says he he said to his people, I'm going to have to do Ukraine, the Epstein drumbeat and the other pressures, the pressures from the Senate, the pressures from, if you like, the neocons, the pressures on the economic front are growing. So I'm going to have to do Ukraine. And he says, and Michael Wolf says very clearly, look, a pull out, yes, a pull out. It'll be a give

to the MAGA, a diversion from Epstein, something has to take them away from this and to, doesn't completely restore his position with MAGA, but if he can produce a give something to MAGA, and what do they want? Maga wants out from the war. No more money spent on it. They want it finished. So he decided last week, I'm going to have to do this. Because, you know, otherwise I can't get out from under this endless drumbeat of problems and things like that. Well, unfortunately, for him, I think Epstein is going to be front and center after Labor Day when the Republicans in the House attempt to enforce their subpoena to the Justice Department. And the Justice Department will have no choice but to surrender all 250,000 pages of that file.

What do you think is meant by an American assured, not NATO assured, American assured security agreement? What could that be? American troops on the ground, more American military equipment in Western Ukraine? I know they haven't worked that out, but it's almost inconceivable to me that Trump would want American personnel there. It is inconceivable. And as I say, you know, the, if you like, the Istanbul plan from 22, 2022 did provide guarantees. And they provided guarantees, but they were only to come into being the guarantors would insist on limitations of treaty agreements with other countries or foreign forces on the ground. and in those circumstances, it would be the guarantee of the security of Ukraine.

I don't think, I mean, I don't know and I don't know what exactly was discussed. I mean, I think much of these details have been, you know, left. But I think the main point I've been trying to make is, you know, I think in a sense what Trump is doing. as Putin, if you like, pursues finding a outcome of the conflict militarily, Trump is flooding the information space. Trump and Whitkoff is bad, flooding the information space. In order, if you like, in order to baffle

and also to try and get out from under the other pressures on him, not Whitkoff, but the Senate and the proposal to sanctuary, Russia, and the Europeans who are going to come this afternoon and be telling him at great length how he's got to, you know, that America must give guarantees, must put European forces as soon as a ceasefire, and they want him to go back. Because basically, what is all this about? This is about, you know, what Brasinski said back in 76 and very clear. Russia with Ukraine in its sphere of influence is a major power in the heartland, in the Asian heartland. Russia without Ukraine in its sphere of influence is just a regional power.

And what we want to do is to make sure Ukraine stays outside of Russia's fear of influence. And Russia, of course, wants to keep Ukraine or much. of it inside its sphere of influence, because that does make a difference and make a big power. But of course, what do you think that Trump and Whitkoff were talking about when they said land swaps? I mean, a swap implies land going both ways. We know what the Russians want. We know the geographical area they control but what would go the other way why do they use the word swap you know i i did mention i think before and last program i said you know there seems to have been um that whitkoff

misunderstood something that putin said that he said that if they started if if you like uh there was a withdrawal from the donbass and the start of the withdrawal from the dombas and the start of the withdrawal from the Donbass, then during that period we could have a sectoral ceasefire while that was going on in Zaporizia and Kersa. Of course, there can be no land swap. It's ridiculous to suggest it. It's in the Russian constitution, even if Putin wanted to. He cannot give away land that is constitutionally now part of Russia. He has no ability to do that. So this is nonsense. And I fear somewhat that Whitkoff, I'm sure he's a very intelligent man, but somehow I think he gets a bit befuddled. I mean, you know, the Ukraine is complicated. There's a long history to it. And he says

sometimes things that, you know, cause more confusion than help. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of any change in Russia's position at all. It came out of this. family on their own position. Trump has changed radically. He's gone from ceasefire to peace treaty. He now appears to accept the fact, after listening to Putin's lecture on Friday, that Russia's claims on Crimea and the four oblasts are either historically and culturally accurate or militarily inevitable.

Has Trump thrown the neocons, Senator Graham, under the bus? Ostensibly, yes. But then again, it's Trump. And we have all the European, you know, PAC arriving or arrived already in Washington to try and undo this. And Trump sometimes sort of veers from one place to another. and it's possible that under pressure he will say something else. But I doubt it because, as I say, it seems, you know, deeply his desire to give something to Maga and what he wants to do to sort of as a give to them is the end of the Ukraine war.

And it suits him. I mean, this is actually the best outcome for him if Russia actually does it and pursue, it and reaches a forced outcome because there'll never be an agreement as things stand. The sides are too far apart. There can be no agreement as things stand. So something has to be forced. And this is what Putin is taking on his shoulders to do the forcing of an outcome. But he is doing it in a way in which he understands the diverse pressures that are on Trump

and therefore gives him more latitude. And so, you know, Russia is not responding to all the sort of information flood, this flood of, you know, suggestions of what was said in Moscow. He has given one statement to the Russian senior leadership, which said this is what was agreed, that's it. And there were no concessions whatsoever.

But he's not going to go and embarrass Trump or Whitkoff by saying, no, that wasn't right. What we really said was this or something. No, the game of this, the deal of this is both sides now understand the position of the other and see that there is a possibility. It may not work, but a possibility that this could come, if you like, to a conclusion with Ukraine. and one that understands the United States needs,

or rather Trump's particular needs, but also respect. And that's why I think already we started to hear them talking about the big picture, which I've always said would be where Putin would be going, to talk about nuclear issues, treaty, and the Arctic. And he did, and on the eve before Trump went off, he issued an executive order,

the defining Exxon's earlier interest in a particular field in the Arctic. So I think both of them see a bigger perspective. And the important thing to remember is, what's the next meeting coming up or maybe coming up? Well, which it is at the beginning of September is the 80th anniversary of the Japanese surrender. And they are celebrating that in Beijing, and Putin is going. Z, obviously, is going, and it's suggested that Trump will be invited.

This is, if you like, the perspective that Putin and Z are deliberately holding out to Trump. You know, we can sit with you and we can find a strategic perspective, not just about Ukraine. We can move beyond it and you can, you can suggest this is a great victory. And it will be a victory in a certain way, yes. Alster Crook, thank you, my dear friend. A terrific and brilliant analysis, deeply appreciated, as always. And, of course, we'll look forward to seeing you again next week. Thank you very much, Judge. Thank you. A busy day coming up at 10 this morning on all of this, Ray McGovern, at 11.

30 this morning on all of this, Larry Johnson, at 2 o'clock this afternoon on all of this, Colonel Douglas McGregor at 3 o'clock this afternoon. While the world has been watching Alaska, what's still happening in the Middle East with Aaron Mate, Judge Napolitano for judging freedom. You know, I'm going to be able to be. Thank you.