The Myth Of “Negotiations”

Witkoff claims on CNN that Trump and Putin agreed to "robust security guarantees," such as "Article 5 protection from the United States." 🤔 pic.twitter.com/RysA8sqwlT

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

I call bullshit. Putin would only agree to that over his dead body. And Trump despises NATO.

Bartiromo: Why did Trump’s meeting with Putin end with no ceasefire, and what does Putin want?

Rubio: First of all, if you recall… we never said there was going to be a deal coming out of the meeting because the Ukrainians were not there. pic.twitter.com/ps2tYymsxC

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

So, the point was…?

Witkoff: "The fundamental issue, which is some sort of land swap, which is obviously ultimately in the the control of the Ukrainians, that could not have been discussed at this meeting. We intend to discuss it on Monday." pic.twitter.com/PXSAfB4f2s

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

"You don’t have the cards,” redux.

Welker: Why not impose more sanctions on them and force them to agree to a cease-fire instead of accepting that Putin won’ agree to one?

Rubio: Well, first, I think that’s something that a lot of people go around saying that I don't necessarily think is true. I don't think new… pic.twitter.com/KaiNtZdwTC

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

Rubio: Well, first, I think that’s something that a lot of people go around saying that I don't necessarily think is true. I don't think new sanctions on Russia are going to force them to accept a cease-fire

Welker: A lot of people have heard President Trump threaten sanctions for months and they are wondering, are they empty threats? Why hasn't he punished Putin to date for this war since taking office?

Pee tape?

RADDATZ: The president went in to that meeting saying he wanted a ceasefire and there would be consequences if they didn't agree on a ceasefire in that meeting, and they didn't agree to a ceasefire. So where are the consequences?

RUBIO: That's not the aim

RADDATZ: The president… pic.twitter.com/fuO9q1Y5ze

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

RADDATZ: The president said that was the aim

Welker: Can you name one thing President Trump is asking Russia to give up in order to get peace.

Rubio: I'm not going to disclose those things because if we do, these negotiations could fall apart pic.twitter.com/yLuvrptRBF

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

WHAT NEGOTIATIONS?

TAPPER: You mentioned the Article 5 guarantee of NATO. Russia would allow that to happen?

WITKOFF: Jake, that's not what I said. What I said is we got to an agreement that the US and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security… pic.twitter.com/jIbmOhvsqL

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

BREAM: What does a security guarantee mean in practicality?

WITKOFF: It means the US is potentially prepared to be able to give Article 5 security guarantees, but not from NATO

BREAM: Does it mean boots on the ground?

WITKOFF: I think part of the discussion we're gonna have… pic.twitter.com/NmjGrw6zgW

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

WITKOFF: I think part of the discussion we're gonna have Monday is exactly the specifics of what the Ukrainians feel they need

Brennan: Putin says the root causes of the conflict have to be resolved… Isn't the root cause the fact that Russia invaded in the first place?

Rubio: Well, ultimately, yeah. What he means by root causes is a long historical complaints… The bottom line, we are not going to… pic.twitter.com/g41rWBW7qe

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

So is it, or is it not, “Biden’s war”?

WELKER: Why not impose more sanctions on Russia and force them to agree to a ceasefire, instead of accepting that Putin won't agree to one?

RUBIO: Well, I think that's something people go around saying that I don't necessarily think is true. I don't think new sanctions on Russia… pic.twitter.com/GoIucsrDmA

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

Whatever it is, we can't do anything about it?

Rubio repeatedly won't name a single specific concession that Russia will have to give up as part of a peace deal, then pivots to talking about land that Ukraine will have to give up pic.twitter.com/lKADhYRj5B

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 17, 2025

I guess not.

Graham: Our marvelous, wonderful first lady is appealing to Putin's better nature. pic.twitter.com/7KJJw9xgR7

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

Yeah. Sure. What would your old buddy, John McCain, say about that?

Brennan: Did you hear anything from Vladimir Putin that indicated he is willing to make a single concession?

Rubio: There are some changes that I think are possible. I think there is some concepts discussed that could potentially lead to something. pic.twitter.com/X7BiabyrZC

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

Concepts of a plan?

Rubio: [European Leaders] are not coming to keep Zelenkyy from being bullied.

Brennan: What about the Oval Office meeting where Zelenskyy—

Rubio: Do you know how many meetings we have had since then?

Brennan: I was in Alaska watching the one with Putin where a red carpet was… pic.twitter.com/JOymdffADa

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

Brennan: I was in Alaska watching the one with Putin where a red carpet was rolled out --

BAM! SMACK! POW!

Brennan: The president told those European leaders last week he wanted a ceasefire. He went on television and said he would walk out of the meeting if Putin didn't agree to one, he said there would be severe consequences if he didn’t agree to one. He spent three hours talking to… pic.twitter.com/2WtuDH5Oii

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

Brennan: The president told those European leaders last week he wanted a ceasefire. He went on television and said he would walk out of the meeting if Putin didn't agree to one, he said there would be severe consequences if he didn’t agree to one. He spent three hours talking to Putin and he did not get one.

Rubio: Our goal is not to stage only production for the world to say how dramatic, he walked out.

"Our goal is for the President to cancel lunch and sulk like a child who didn’t get dessert, at an international press conference.”

Hill: The optics were much more favorable to Putin than they were to the US. It really looked like Putin set the agenda there, the narrative and in many respects the tone for the summit meeting. pic.twitter.com/GmindE6kAq

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 17, 2025

And beat Trump like a rented mule.