U.S. President Donald Trump looks on, as he signs an executive order on AI in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. December 11, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago
airs Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings)
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Diplomatic Whiplash
During this week's U.S.-led peace talks concerning the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, President Trump’s impatience was on display. He continuously pressured Ukraine to accept his administration’s peace proposal, which heavily favors Russia, by suggesting Ukraine cede territory—and attacked his European counterparts for being “weak.”
This, along with the release of his administration’s National Security Strategy, has raised alarms for America's allies over what seems to be shifting international priorities.
We investigate President Trump’s ever-changing views on the war and why he seems to have returned to his default setting: favoring Russia.
Joining editor in chief of The Atlantic and moderator, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more:
- Anne Applebaum, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
- Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker
- Amna Nawaz, Co-Anchor, PBS News Hour
- Vivian Salama, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
Major funding for Washington Week with The Atlantic is provided by Consumer Cellular, the Yuen Foundation, Sandra and Carl DeLay-Magnuson, Rose Hirschel and Andy Shreeves, Robert and Susan Rosenbaum, and PBS.
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