I sat down with Professor John Mearsheimer to unpack the hard truths behind the upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska. What we found is sobering: the diplomatic positions of the West and Russia aren’t just misaligned—they’re fundamentally incompatible.
In this episode of Daniel Davis Deep Dive, we explore:
Why European leaders insist on a ceasefire before negotiations—and why Russia demands the opposite
How Russia’s constitutional claim over four Ukrainian regions makes compromise nearly impossible
Why Moscow views Ukraine’s government as illegitimate in those territories
And how this sequencing conflict—“stop the war, then talk” vs. “talk, then stop the war”—could derail the summit before it begins
Professor Mearsheimer argues that Putin is playing a long game, and unless Trump recognizes the battlefield and political realities, the U.S. may walk away with nothing but headlines.
🎥 Watch the full episode here
This isn’t just another summit. It may be the moment the West realizes it can’t dictate terms—and that Putin won’t lose on paper what he’s already won on the ground.
