Ravi Agrawal, the editor in chief of Foreign Policy magazine, told CBS News’ Major Garrett that the recent events in Ukraine were a result of Vladimir Putin’s deliberate actions, despite any claims otherwise. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticized President Trump for engaging in a “disinformation space” influenced by Russia.
Putin, who initiated military actions in Ukraine in 2014 and later annexed Crimea, justifies his recent invasion by claiming a threat from NATO’s eastward expansion. However, the U.S. and its European allies reject this explanation, asserting that Putin’s true goal was to seize Ukrainian territory and discredit Zelenskyy’s government.
Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, a senior U.S. Navy officer, affirmed NATO’s stance that the war in Ukraine was unprovoked, contradicting Trump’s statements. Trump’s rhetoric, often lacking in accuracy, has raised concerns in Europe about a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Russia’s favor.
Zelenskyy has shown flexibility in negotiations, but he insists on Ukraine’s involvement in any peace talks and seeks security guarantees from the U.S. and its allies. Despite facing Russian disinformation, Zelenskyy remains resolute in his country’s position.
With all due respect, living in this disinformation space is concerning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently engaged in a conversation with a Turkish media outlet during his visit to Turkey on February 19, 2025, in Ankara. Zelenskyy expressed his desire to bring an end to the ongoing war within the current year. However, he criticized the Trump administration for allegedly aiding Russia’s autocratic regime to escape the international isolation it had imposed on itself through sanctions and severed diplomatic ties due to the unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
The involvement of Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv raised questions about the American perspective on the conflict. Kellogg, a retired three-star general, arrived in Kyiv to engage in discussions with Zelenskyy’s administration after initial dialogues excluded the Ukrainians. The focus was on whether Ukraine could have prevented or halted the war imposed by its much larger, better-equipped, autocratic neighbor. Kellogg’s arrival just days before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hinted at the acknowledgment of the initiating party in the ongoing conflict.
Kellogg emphasized the importance of substantive discussions during his visit to Kyiv, hinting at the need for security guarantees and the protection of Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. Zelenskyy has advocated for either NATO membership or the deployment of NATO forces to enforce a ceasefire as potential measures to ward off future Russian aggression. However, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov’s recent statements during talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia dismissed these possibilities. Russia has also rejected any territorial exchanges with Ukraine, complicating the prospects for a peace agreement.
The Trump administration’s role in negotiating a resolution to the conflict remains uncertain, with Kellogg stating his intention to report back to President Trump and Rubio after his discussions in Kyiv. Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, there are speculations about a potential in-person meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump in the near future. In a separate development, the Trump administration’s decision to dismiss thousands of U.S. Forest and National Park Service workers has raised concerns. Additionally, controversies surrounding DOGE “receipts” have emerged, suggesting approved spending rather than evidence of fraud. In a legal case, A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on both counts in a felony assault trial.
