Daniel Davis / Deep Dive, Released on 10/21/25

Col Doug Macgregor insists Ukraine must be militarily strongest before, during, and after any ceasefire; pressure on Russia’s economy and defense sector must continue. Proposes using frozen/immobilized Russian sovereign assets held in Western banks to fund Ukraine — a controversial idea framed as “taking Russian money.” Strong critique of European leaders and mainstream outlets: argues they want the war to continue to preserve political power and that their position is detached from reality. Asserts President Trump is theatrical and constrained — he seeks big PR-style peace moments but lacks the political support in Washington to deliver a durable settlement. Trump’s public proposals (e.g., stop at current battle lines, accept Russia holding much of Donbas, hold talks in Budapest) are described as oversimplified and unlikely to resolve the underlying issues. Calls for a large, inclusive diplomatic conference (likened to the 19th-century Congress of Berlin) where all major powers give and take — rather than U.S.-centered or short-term fixes. Emphasizes Russia’s existential security concerns about a hostile Ukraine and likens it to how the U.S. would react to a foreign-armed Mexico — arguing many U.S. policymakers don’t appreciate that perspective. Warns the U.S. military arsenal/readiness (missile stockpiles, “magazine” levels) is low, limiting how much can be supplied to Ukraine without jeopardizing U.S. readiness.

Col. Douglas A. Macgregor USA (Ret.) is a decorated combat veteran with a PhD in International Relations from the University of Virginia. He is the author of five books and is the executive vice president of Burke-Macgregor Group LLC, a Defense and Foreign Policy consulting firm in Northern Virginia. He is the CEO of Our Country Our Choice.

  daniel davis, douglas macgregor, geopolitics, putin, Trump, Ukraine, ukraine russia war