Description:
Europe and Washington are quietly drafting a new offer for Moscow, and Russia is almost certain to say no. In this episode we break down the Financial Times report on Europe's two option plan, Witkoff's Oslo talks, the rumored Trump Putin Xi meeting at APEC, and why the public Trump Zelensky feud may be cover for coordinated escalation through Starlink and Star Shield. Is the West setting up Russia's rejection as the excuse for one last big round of escalation?
Timeline:
00:00:00 Russia grinding Ukraine down as Western diplomacy turns chaotic
00:00:48 Rumored Trump Xi Putin meeting at APEC in China
00:01:16 Witkoff in Oslo and a possible trip to Moscow
00:01:42 Financial Times reveals Europe's two option plan
00:02:59 Endgame since September and the West's push for a freeze
00:04:16 Ratcliffe threats and Witkoff Kushner offers rejected
00:06:47 Was the tripartite summit really Putin's idea?
00:09:07 Trump links the meeting to denuclearization
00:10:39 Why China won't want a three way meeting
00:12:30 Rassvet, Oreshnik and Ukraine's financial crisis
00:14:49 Trump Zelensky feud versus quiet US Europe coordination
00:18:46 Starlink, Star Shield and the intelligence sharing confusion
00:21:08 Kellogg plan, the summer drone offensive and Vietnam parallels
00:26:10 Zelensky lobbies US senators against Trump
00:32:05 Through the fog: Russia will say no