Is a peace deal with Putin possible?
Top Putin expert Fiona Hill on the chances of a Ukraine peace deal
An episode of the The Global Story podcast, hosted by BBC World Service, titled "Is a peace deal with Putin possible?" was published on February 26, 2026 and runs 26 minutes.
February 26, 2026 ·26m · The Global Story
Summary
As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, the prospect of peace feels as distant as ever. President Trump hasn’t yet succeeded in striking a deal, and negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine have yet to produce a breakthrough. Fiona Hill is one of the foremost authorities on Vladimir Putin and a former White House advisor on Russia during Trump’s first term. Over the course of her career, she has sat across the table from the Russian president and helped shape US policy at the highest level. She tells us what it is really like to be in the room Putin and Trump, and whether a durable peace in Ukraine is still within reach. Producers: Chris Benderev and Valerio Esposito Executive producer: James Shield Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins (Photo: Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin together. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Episode Description
As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, the prospect of peace feels as distant as ever. President Trump hasn’t yet succeeded in striking a deal, and negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine have yet to produce a breakthrough.
Fiona Hill is one of the foremost authorities on Vladimir Putin and a former White House advisor on Russia during Trump’s first term. Over the course of her career, she has sat across the table from the Russian president and helped shape US policy at the highest level.
She tells us what it is really like to be in the room Putin and Trump, and whether a durable peace in Ukraine is still within reach.
Producers: Chris Benderev and Valerio Esposito
Executive producer: James Shield
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Senior news editor: China Collins
(Photo: Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin together. Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)