Fiona Hill Discusses International Relations on 'Face The Nation,' August 17, 2025

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MARGARET BRENNAN: We're glad to have Fiona Hill joining us today on Face the Nation. She formerly held the position of Senior Director for Russia and European Affairs during the first term of President Trump. Good morning, Fiona.

FIONA HILL: Good morning, Margaret.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Fiona, I know you were closely involved with the 2018 Helsinki summit and have since shared your thoughts on it. How would you compare that with the recent Alaska summit?

HILL: The two summits presented quite distinct differences. Notably, in Alaska, they opted to forgo the usual one-on-one talks and formal luncheons typical in such meetings. The press conference focused more on leader statements rather than open questioning, which was surely unexpected for you who attended. Additionally, while the visual setting seemed intended to project American power, the impression was more that of a celebration favoring Putin. Putin seemed to steer the summit's direction in both the agenda and tone.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Normally, a president’s team strategically plans these events to maximize efficacy. Do you think the advisory team set up the President effectively for this summit?

HILL: Evidently, if the Russians required a grand display to entertain further negotiations, the President’s team may have given way to this demand. While Secretary Rubio indicated that any significant progress might hinge on this display, real benefits from this summit will depend on subsequent actions and outcomes.

MARGARET BRENNAN: UK’s Defense Secretary has discussed possibly deploying troops to Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire. From your perspective, how should these security commitments be structured?

HILL: Effective security guarantees would require substantial collaboration. It could involve European forces on the ground with crucial U.S. support in intelligence and military resources. It’s vital that Europe's voice weighs equally on what must be a coordinated effort, given the potential regional security implications.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You have intimate insights into both Putin and Trump. In recent discussions, mail-in voting in the U.S. comes up, with Putin suggesting the war wouldn’t have occurred if Trump were president. Why would these facets even surface during conversations about Ukraine?

HILL: Putin has a history of leveraging U.S. domestic politics to his advantage, nudging Trump towards positions beneficial to him. This tactic serves to distract and manipulate domestic perceptions in both the U.S. and abroad, while deflecting from substantive diplomatic negotiations.

MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s clear that the Russian electoral system leaves much to be desired in terms of fairness. Correct?

HILL: Absolutely. Putin’s antics aim to obfuscate between now and coming elections, hoping to destabilize U.S. proceedings while colluding with Trump's narratives. This deflection was strategic rather than consequential in terms of negotiating outcomes for Ukraine.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you, Fiona Hill, for providing your insights today. We’ll return shortly.

Transcription for Face The Nation

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