Larry C. Johnson: What Trump Needs to Know About Russia

by Larry C. Johnson [3-9-2025 published].

Okay. The word is out. I am in Russia with Judge Napolitano and we’re supposed to have a pretty interesting meeting soon with some key officials. This is the Judge’s first visit to Moscow and he is totally overwhelmed, in a positive way, by the beauty of the Russian Republic. And yes, we’re eating too much. I will have to go on a diet when I return to the US.

We visited a school that is sponsored by Konstatin Malofeev the other day. What a place! I am happy to call Konstatin a friend. Not because of his wealth, but because he is a person of integrity and faith. The children that attend this school are taught a traditional, classical curriculum. I wish you could have seen the light in the faces of these beautiful kids. Something magical is happening there.

I received a genuine revelation at lunch. We dined in a classroom dedicated to the kindergarten kids. Along with Konstatin, there was Alexander Dugin, the Dean of the School, and a retired Russian diplomat. Dugin, who is a devout Christian, was fasting because of Lent and watched us eat. I took advantage of the moment and asked the four Russians, did they have a relative/ancestor who died in the Great Patriotic War? All four raised their hands.

Judge Napolitano and I responded that neither of us had a relative who sacrificed their life in World War Two. That right there is the difference between the United States and Russia. The Russian people know the human cost of war all too well. Vladimir Putin’s older brother died during the siege of Leningrad (aka St. Petersburg).

Let me put this into perspective. The United States lost around 275,000 soldiers in battles fighting the Nazis in North Africa and Europe during the entirety of the war. In the Battle of Stalingrad alone, Russia lost approximately 750,000 to 1,100,000 soldiers and civilians… these figures include both military and civilian deaths. Russians know the cost of war better than anyone in the West.

Which brings me to the war in Ukraine. It is not a full blown war. It is a Special Military Operation. It if was a war, Russia would be fully mobilized. It is not. If you walk the streets of Moscow or travel outside the city (which I have), you would not know that there is a battle raging along the front in the Donbass. And for those people who insist that Russia’s economy is in tatters and that the Russian people are suffering under the burden of inflation, think again.

Yesterday was the Day of the Woman. It is a combination of St. Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Finding a place to eat dinner became Mission Impossible. Every restaurant was booked and guys were treating their ladies to a tasty meal. The streets of Moscow were full of happy, hungry people.

Do you know what you don’t see on the streets of Moscow and the cities outside? Police. If you drive from La Guardia Airport in New York City to downtown Manhattan, you will see a number of police cars and police standing on street corners. You do not see that in Moscow. Police are a scarce quantity.

Putin’s position regarding Ukraine has not changed. He will not negotiate with Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky is no longer the constitutional authority in Ukraine. He must be replaced and Russia will only talk to his successor. Russia is not going to make any territorial concessions. Zaporhyzhia and Kherson, along with Donetshk and Luhansk, are now permanent members of the Russian Federation. That is non-negotiable.

I was struck by Donald Trump’s comment today, where he opined that Ukraine may cease to exist as a country. It appears to me he is starting to pay attention to daily Presidential Daily Brief and that Tulsi Gabbard, in her new role as the Director of National Intelligence, is making sure that the President is getting an unvarnished briefing on the true situation in Ukraine.