Generated Summary Below:
Video Description:
Top diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine and improving relations between Washington and Moscow. The Riyadh summit represents a monumental shift in U.S. policy after the Biden administration led an international effort to isolate Russia over its invasion and gave tens of billions in military aid to Kyiv. Participants included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited to attend and has said he won't recognize a peace deal negotiated without his country. European leaders have also been sidelined. For more on these developments, we host a discussion between economist Jeffrey Sachs and foreign policy analyst Matt Duss.
"This is a war that never should have happened," says Sachs, who faults "U.S. provocations" like the expansion of NATO for laying the groundwork for Russia's invasion in 2022. In holding these talks directly with Russia, "the Trump administration, for the first time, is telling the truth about the fundamental causes of this war," adds Sachs.
Duss says that while the U.S. has played a major role in the conflict, "Vladimir Putin is the one who chose to invade Ukraine." He also emphasizes that Ukrainians themselves have agency and have been key players in events since the end of the Cold War, including their current defense against Russia. "It's not just a story of unending U.S. villainy."
Generated Below:
Main Topic: The ongoing war in Ukraine, focusing on the possibility of peace negotiations and the roles played by the US, Russia, and Ukraine.
Key Points:
- Differing Perspectives: The debate features two guests with contrasting viewpoints. Jeffrey Sachs argues that the US bears significant responsibility for provoking the war through NATO expansion and other actions, advocating for negotiations to end the conflict. Matt Duss emphasizes Russia's responsibility for the invasion and expresses skepticism about negotiations without Ukraine's full participation.
- Peace Negotiations: The recent talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia are discussed as a potential turning point. Sachs views these talks positively, while Duss expresses concern that they might exclude Ukraine and benefit Putin.
- Historical Context: Both guests discuss the historical context of the conflict, highlighting different interpretations of events such as NATO expansion, the 2014 Ukrainian coup, and previous attempts at peace negotiations. Sachs emphasizes US provocations, while Duss stresses Russia's aggression.
- Ukraine's Role: A key point of contention is Ukraine's role in the conflict and its involvement in peace negotiations. Sachs criticizes Ukraine's initial refusal to negotiate, while Duss underscores Ukraine's right to self-determination and the importance of its participation in any peace agreement.
- US Foreign Policy: The debate touches upon broader criticisms of US foreign policy, with Sachs accusing the US of pursuing a policy of unipolarity and Duss acknowledging US foreign policy failures while emphasizing Russia's culpability.
Highlights:
- The contrasting analyses of the historical context of the war, particularly regarding US and Russian actions.
- The discussion of the Saudi Arabia talks and their potential implications for peace.
- The debate over the role and agency of Ukraine in the conflict and peace negotiations.
- The broader discussion of US foreign policy and its impact on the war in Ukraine.
About Channel:
Democracy Now! is a viewer-supported independent, global weekday news hour anchored by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. The show is broadcast on more than 1,500 TV, radio and internet stations. Stream the show live Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. ET at http://www.democracynow.org.