The Global Story - The hostage negotiator’s guide to making deals with Putin’s Russia
Download The hostage negotiator’s guide to making deals with Putin’s Russia
Donald Trump has spent this year trying to negotiate a deal to end the war in Ukraine. So far, Vladimir Putin doesn’t seem interested in the US’s proposals.
One man who has successfully negotiated with Russia – and with many of America’s adversaries – is Roger Carstens, former Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. From 2020 to 2025 he worked to free dozens of US citizens taken hostage and wrongfully detained around the world, including in Russia. Securing their release often required complex deals that took years to put together.
What does it take to successfully negotiate with Putin’s Russia?
Producer: Lucy Pawle
Executive producer: James Shield
Senior news editor: China Collins
Mix: Travis Evans
Photo: Roger Carstens. Credit: BBC
Published on Thursday, 13th November 2025.
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