Days after President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, questions remain: what was gained, what was conceded, and what does it mean for Ukraine? In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Elisa is joined by Rob Dannenberg—former CIA officer and two-time Moscow Station Chief—to examine the dynamics of the Alaska summit. They discuss Putin’s shifting demands, Trump’s rejection of a ceasefire in favor of a permanent peace, and the risks of negotiating with one of the world’s most seasoned strongmen.

Robert Dannenberg worked in the Central Intelligence Agency for 24 years, including as Chief of Operations for the Counter Terrorism Center, Chief of the Central Eurasia Division and Chief of the CIA’s Information Operations Center. He then served as the head of the Office of Global Security for Goldman Sachs.

References:

Dannenberg, Rob. “It’s Time to Show Putin that the U.S. Is Serious.” The Cipher Brief, 24 August 2025. The Cipher Brief.

Dannenberg, Rob.A Spy Walked into a Bar: A Practitioner’s Guide to Cocktail Tradecraft.Ci4 Publishing, 21 June 2025

Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025