The United States presents Ukraine with a take-it-or-leave-it ceasefire deal that compels Kyiv to give Russia everything it wants in exchange for…well, in exchange for nothing.
Ukraine rejects the deal, sparking a harsh rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump.
And Russia responds with its most devastating attack on Kyiv in nearly a year, launching 70 missiles and 145 drones at the Ukrainian capital, killing at least 12 people and injuring 90.
With the United States appearing to abandon Ukraine, we are entering uncharted waters.
So what happens next? On this week’s Power Vertical Podcast, host Brian Whitmore speaks with James Sherr of the International Center for Defense and Security and Casey Michel, author of the book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World.
Enjoy…
Please follow Brian Whitmore and The Power Vertical on Bluesky @powervertical.bsky.social
SHOW NOTES
The audio clips opening the podcast and the second segment came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech on April 21, 2025. The translations are as follows:
“Russia is the source of this war. It is from Moscow that a real order must come for the Russian army to cease fire. And if there is no such firm Russian order for a ceasefire – then there is no ceasefire.”
“I thank all our warriors who are defending Ukraine, who are holding the lines, who are making diplomacy possible. Strong diplomacy is the diplomacy of a strong state and a strong nation.”
Anton Shekhovtsov’s Substack post, “Rethinking Crimea,” which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here.
Casey Michel’s article in The Bulwark, “Trump’s Plan for Ukraine: Gift-Wrap It for Putin,” which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here.
Steven Elrager’s article in The New York TImes, “If America Walks Away From Ukraine, What Will Europe Do?” which was referenced in the podcast, can be accessed here.
A draft of the Trump administration’s proposed peace plan published by Reuters and referenced in the podcast can be accessed here.
Casey Michel’s 2024 book Foreign Agents: How American Lobbyists and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World can be purchased here. His 2021 book American Kleptocracy: How The US Created the Greatest Money Laundering Machine in History can be purchased here. Casey’s published works can be accessed here.
James Sherr’s recently published work can be accessed here and here.
The Power Vertical Newsletter on Substack can be accessed here. Recently published work by Brian Whitmore can be accessed here, here, and here. Please follow Brian Whitmore and The Power Vertical on Bluesky @powervertical.bsky.social