November 23, 2025: Russia Reacts to Trump’s Peace Plan

Vesti Nedeli, Russia's Channel 2 news program, opens the week by declaring “Kupyansk is ours” and discussing what it pointedly calls the “Trump peace plan” for Ukraine. Why is Moscow suddenly emphasizing flexibility while keeping its distance from a proposal that could force Russia to part with billions of Euros in frozen assets in Europe? And what does the news program's glowing portrayal of Donald Trump (complete with an AI soccer clip) tell us about how the Kremlin views shifting political winds in Washington? In this episode, Andy Kuchins and Chris Monday break down what Russian state media wants its audience to believe, and what the Kremlin may actually be preparing for.