Nigel Gould-Davies
ON THE RECORD · 22 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“trying to understand the different views and moods of those around Trump and who will be the last person to whisper in his ear.”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies labels western diplomats' approach as White House Kremlinology, studying who influences Trump.
“A hope that Russia can somehow be persuaded”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies describes the unfounded hope that Russia can be persuaded to change course.
“It consists of many different players, plenty of whom have different views privately from President Trump.”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies notes that many in the administration hold different private views from President Trump.
“could be an easing of America’s sanctions on Russia and an ending to America’s support for Ukraine”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies speculates on what Putin's quid pro quo for brokering efforts with Iran could be.
“no basis whatsoever in reality”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies describes Trump's unilateral energy ceasefire declaration as having no basis in reality.
“They have not really been negotiations,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies characterizes Russia-Ukraine talks under Trump as not being genuine negotiations.
“is only the visible tip of the iceberg”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies suggests the Russian diesel deal may signal a broader pro-Russia tilt by the White House.
“Russia, by contrast, has repeatedly said publicly that it is not interested in a ceasefire,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies contrasts Russia's public stance against a ceasefire with Ukraine's willingness to accept one.
“A peace agreement is only possible when both sides believe that it better serves their interests to end the fighting than to continue,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies explains why peace negotiations have failed since Russia's full-scale invasion.
“there is literally no evidence for that whatsoever”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies states there is no evidence Russia can be persuaded to change course.
“actively unhelpful, because they perpetuate the illusion that peace may be around the corner”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies worries informal discussions perpetuate the illusion that peace is near.
“You have to find that overlap in the Venn diagram that leads to a defined set of conditions which, despite involving painful compromises, is ultimately judged to better serve each side than continuing to fight.”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies describes the need to find overlapping interests between warring sides.
“There is a degree of collective delusion here,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies criticizes diplomatic back channels as based on collective delusion about Russia changing course.
“The problem with this situation is that Russia has no interest in ending the war,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies identifies Russia's lack of interest in ending the war as the core obstacle.
“He simply made it up … a product of a fantasy.”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies says Trump's energy ceasefire was a product of fantasy, made without Moscow or Kyiv's awareness.
“decisive superiority and dominance over a severely weakened Ukraine”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies explains what a full end to the war means in Russian terms.
“warn Russia against escalation into Europe”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies cites speculation that CIA director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow to warn Russia against escalation.
“Right now even ‘the White House’ is an abstraction,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies describes the White House as an abstraction with many different players holding divergent views.
“but join the dots and it logically makes sense”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies caveats his theory about Trump's motives but says it logically makes sense.
“[Trump’s] natural centre of gravity is to favour Russia,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies argues Trump's natural inclination is to favour Russia, citing restrictions on US weapons and intelligence sharing.
“There are people in positions of power and influence still in this administration who understand the problem of Russia in the right way,”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies says some in the administration understand the Russia problem correctly.
“parallel efforts by Russia and Ukraine to persuade the White House it’s the other side’s fault”
Nigel Gould-Davies · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Gould-Davies describes both sides' efforts to blame each other to the White House.