Trump, Putin and the Betrayal of Ukraine

In this episode Sian Norris speaks with The Guardian’s Luke Harding about his book Betrayal: Putin, Trump and the New Age of Conquest, covering Harding’s 2007–2011 Moscow posting, FSB harassment and his expulsion while investigating Litvinenko and Putin’s wealth.

Luke argues Putin’s worldview is neo-imperial and explains how Western leaders misread Russia before the February 2022 full-scale invasion. He describes Biden’s fear of nuclear escalation and slow delivery of weapons, and says some Ukrainians hoped Trump might end the war, but Harding believes Trump behaves like a Russian asset, citing deference to Putin, policy shifts, cuts to Ukraine aid, and possible kompromat. 

We also explore Kremlin ties to the British right, Brexit-era influence, Nigel Farage’s Russia Today appearances, and the Nathan Gill bribery case, before ending on Ukraine’s resilience, drone innovation, and a strategy of degrading Russia’s war economy.

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Expelled From Moscow

03:34 FSB Harassment Campaign

07:05 Warnings Before Invasion

10:17 Putin Mythology Ukraine

13:56 Biden Zelensky Tensions

17:51 Alaska Summit Deference

20:03 Why Trump Aligns Russia

23:42 Oval Office Ambush

26:15 Britain Right Russia Links

29:27 Nathan Gill Bribery Case

35:12 Far Right Influence Network

37:18 New Age Of Conquest

40:05 Drone Warfare Template

40:54 Ukraine Resilience Winter

43:49 Ukraine Innovation Victory

Credits:

Presented by Sian Norris

Produced by Harry Beney