President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the United States on Friday, August 15, 2025, to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Ahead of the summit, General Joseph Votel, member of CERL’s Executive Board, spoke with Fox News about what it might take to set the two countries on a path toward peace, and what is at stake for the United States.  

General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army (Ret.), is the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command. He is a Distinguished Military Fellow at the Middle East Institute and a member of the CERL Executive Board. Read his bio here. 

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