The Duran | GERMANY, CDU Plots MERZ Removal, Merkel Lurks in the Shadows | May 31, 2026

Source: The Duran YouTube

Description:
Germany's political crisis is deepening as Bild reports that CDU insiders are actively discussing the removal of Chancellor Friedrich Merz through a no-confidence vote, with North Rhine-Westphalia Minister President Hendrik Wust emerging as the preferred replacement in what Alexander Mercouris bluntly describes as a political assassination in all but name.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran trace the roots of the plot back to Merz's unprecedented failed Bundestag vote and raise the question no one in the German establishment wants to answer: whether Angela Merkel, who recently re-emerged demanding real authority as a condition for any diplomatic role, is quietly pulling the strings behind the curtain. With CDU ratings sliding toward existential territory and the AfD gaining ground across Germany, is replacing Merz a genuine rescue plan or simply rearranging the deck chairs on a ship that has already taken on too much water?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Bild reports CDU plotting against Merz
00:01:17 Potential successors: Hendrik Wust and Michael Kretschmer
00:02:05 Is this a coup? Mercouris calls it a political assassination
00:03:49 Unprecedented in modern German history: why this matters
00:05:34 How big is the group? Early stage but momentum building
00:06:41 Merz's embarrassing first Bundestag vote: the origins of dissent
00:07:06 Merkel re-emerges: the arch plotter returns to German politics
00:09:07 The Ides of March: this is really about CDU survival vs the AfD
00:10:30 If Merz goes: how do German citizens react to a no-election swap?
00:11:48 Short-term stabilization but long-term decline: Mercouris's verdict
00:12:39 Closing remarks and channel links

Alex Christoforou | Russia frontline advance as EU drone narrative crumbles. Trump walks back deal, Iran $300B fund | May 30, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
In a fast-moving Saturday update from Moscow, Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down three major stories converging at once: Trump's Truth Social post announcing an Iran deal that Iran immediately rejected, a New York Times report claiming a $300 billion US investment fund was on the table, and the complete collapse of the EU's blame-Russia drone narrative after Romania's own president confirmed the Galati drone was likely redirected by Ukrainian air defenses.

With Konstantinovka now on the verge of falling to Russian forces and the Crimea land bridge drone narrative exposed as misdirection, the picture on the ground looks nothing like what Western media is reporting, and the central question is whether the Trump administration has weeks or days left before the Iran energy crisis forces a decision neither side is ready to make.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: frozen Iranian assets and seized crypto
00:01:27 Trump Truth Social post: claiming a deal with Iran
00:03:07 Situation room convened: markets react to deal hopes
00:05:24 Trump does not sign: Iran rejects US terms
00:06:54 Trump's full Truth Social post read and analyzed
00:09:05 New York Times: $300 billion Iran investment fund report
00:11:32 Deal or no deal: the 30-day waiting game continues
00:12:52 Romania drone chaos: EU blames Russia immediately
00:15:17 Romanian President Dan: drone was redirected by Ukraine
00:18:20 Alternative narrative: fighter jets let the drone pass
00:20:14 Medvedev warning: EU citizens signed up for conflict
00:22:13 Putin in Astana: dismantling the blame Russia narrative
00:25:23 Putin on Ukraine: advancing across the entire front line
00:26:56 Armenia at a crossroads: EU or Eurasian Union
00:33:46 Konstantinovka about to fall: drone operators withdrawing
00:35:21 Crimea land bridge drone narrative: what is really happening
00:39:55 Clown world: Wall Street Journal on Putin and pig organs
00:42:40 Estonia conscription: planning to draft women by 2040
00:43:58 BBC AI interviews Churchill and Gandhi: cringe moment of the week
00:45:30 Closing remarks and channel links

The Duran | US-Iran Deal or NO DEAL. July Energy Tipping Point | May 30, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
The Iran US standoff is entering a critical phase as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and global energy stockpiles approach dangerous lows, with industry analysts warning that June and July could mark the point of no return for oil prices worldwide.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down why the memorandum of understanding sits unsigned, how Trump's maximalist nuclear enrichment demands keep derailing any ceasefire extension, and whether Netanyahu's repeated assurances that Iran is on the verge of collapse are driving the White House toward a costly miscalculation.

With Bessant managing the financial markets and the strategic petroleum reserves quietly depleting, the question is no longer if this pressure becomes unbearable but when.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Iran US standoff overview
00:01:19 Pakistan as courier, not mediator
00:03:10 The memorandum of understanding explained
00:04:20 Trump backs off: Netanyahu and hardliner influence
00:05:19 Lebanon stalemate: Hezbollah and Israel
00:07:22 Trump's maximalist nuclear enrichment demands
00:09:20 Strait of Hormuz remains closed
00:10:23 June July tipping point: global energy shortage forecast
00:11:20 Can the US keep oil at $100 through winter?
00:12:58 Why oil never hit $150: stockpiles and market intervention
00:16:24 Strategic petroleum reserves and the dangerous game
00:18:23 Europe ignores its own energy crisis
00:20:42 Bessant managing markets: how long can it last?
00:23:01 Netanyahu's house of cards narrative about Iran
00:25:41 Parallels with Russia sanctions miscalculation
00:28:47 Iran's real leverage: the Strait and Gulf pressure
00:29:50 Closing remarks and channel links

Alex Christoforou | NATO freak out Romania drone CRISIS. Armenia looks West, Lavrov mocks Kaja. Ursula targets CHINA | May 29, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
NATO and the EU are in full freakout mode after a drone came down in Romania, with Ursula von der Leyen rushing to announce a 21st sanctions package and European leaders demanding more money for the eastern flank, while Russia's Sergei Lavrov flatly refused to engage with Kallas's demands that Moscow disarm its nuclear arsenal before any talks can begin.

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the Romania drone incident, Lavrov's blunt response to EU diplomacy, Ursula's push to block Chinese imports, Trump's endorsement of Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, and Iran's parliament ruling out any uranium transfer to a third country. 

With Europe escalating on every front while its own economy crumbles and its demands go unacknowledged in Moscow, is the EU's foreign policy producing any results at all?

Alex Christoforou | Behave or blown up. Zelensky reveals Ukraine in trouble. EU Top Diplomat claims US left Kiev | May 28, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube

Description:
Trump threatened to blow up Oman if it does not "behave," while Zelensky's desperate letter to the Trump administration revealed that Ukraine's air defense around Kiev has effectively run out of Patriot interceptors.

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the explosive developments from Moscow, covering Trump's open admission that regime change is now the goal in Iran, the collapse of the ceasefire narrative as Iran retaliates against a US base in Kuwait, and the stunning moment when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas claimed the United States was evacuating its Kiev embassy only to be publicly contradicted by the US embassy itself.

With Macron pushing a European nuclear deterrence club and Russia warning NATO allies across the globe, the question being asked everywhere is whether any of these leaders actually have a plan, or whether they are simply improvising toward catastrophe.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:08 Iran update: US strikes and ceasefire claims
00:04:04 Iran retaliates against US base in Kuwait
00:05:50 Israel hits South Lebanon; Iran demands ceasefire condition
00:08:17 Trump admits regime change is the real goal in Iran
00:12:22 Trump threatens to blow up Oman over Hormuz control
00:18:31 Zelensky pleads with Trump for Patriot interceptors
00:22:14 Where will Ukraine get air defense? The European ask
00:27:48 Kallas claims US is evacuating Kiev embassy
00:31:24 US embassy denies evacuation; Kallas story collapses
00:35:33 Macron nuclear umbrella: Europe forms deterrence club
00:37:41 Shoigu warns Japan and South Korea hosting US nuclear weapons
00:39:25 Clown world: Germany tries to censor X algorithm
00:44:42 Russian oil exports to India up 70%; sanctions narrative fails

The Duran | Mats Nilsson | From Peace Nation to Battlefield, Sweden's NATO Transformation | May 28, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Sweden has quietly ended 200 years of neutrality and is now officially designated as a NATO staging area against Russia, a transformation driven not by public debate but by the behind-the-scenes influence of the powerful Wallenberg banking dynasty and their stakes in Ericsson and Saab.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris are joined on The Duran by Swedish dissident journalist Mats Nilsson, who reveals how a series of agreements including the DCA deal, PAX Sinica membership, and a new US technology prosperity pact have locked Sweden into Washington's military-industrial agenda, sidelining the European Union and stripping Sweden of meaningful sovereignty. Did Swedish citizens ever get a vote on becoming a frontline battlefield, and is it already too late to reverse course?

Timeline: 

00:00:00 Introduction and welcome to Mats Nilsson
00:01:18 NATO foreign ministers summit hosted in Sweden
00:02:39 Sweden's dual strategy: aligning with Europe while binding to the US
00:03:56 PAX Sinica and the technology prosperity deal explained
00:05:13 The Wallenberg family: who they are and how they run Sweden
00:08:26 Wallenbergs during World War II: banking both sides
00:09:43 Nordic compass industrial alliance and Arctic militarization
00:12:03 Was it the US or internal forces that pushed Sweden into NATO?
00:15:51 Swedish media fails to question escalation against Russia
00:18:13 Public opinion: do Swedes understand what NATO membership means?
00:20:51 Sweden declared NATO staging area for a potential conflict
00:23:14 Summary: from functioning democracy to potential battlefield

Alex Christoforou | Ursula Wants to Punish Russia. Board of Peace Zero Dollars. US Accepts Iran Red Lines. Merz Trouble | May 27, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
The Trump administration has reportedly accepted Iran's red lines in the latest ceasefire revisions but is now scrambling to spin a diplomatic defeat into a negotiated victory, while the Financial Times reveals that Donald Trump's Board of Peace fund holds exactly zero dollars despite $17 billion in pledges, with a shadowy JP Morgan parallel account raising serious questions about where the money went.

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the Iran deal mechanics, the Abraham Accords gambit, Russia's decision to target military command centers in Kiev, the collapse of the EU ammunition coalition, and a Germany that may be preparing to show Friedrich Mertz the door. With Western credibility fraying on every front, is anyone actually in charge of this situation?

Alex Christoforou | Lavrov to Rubio, evacuate ASAP. US/EU ignore Russian warning. US strikes Iran speed boats | May 26, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
Russia has issued its most serious warning yet, telling all foreign nationals and diplomatic staff to evacuate Kiev immediately as the Kremlin signals a dramatic shift in its military strategy, including systematic strikes on Ukrainian defense and decision-making centers. 

Alex Christoforou breaks down Lavrov's direct message to Rubio, why the US and EU are brushing off the warning, and what Putin's silence toward European leaders really means, alongside The Duran's coverage of US military strikes on Iranian speedboats and missile sites, the stalled Iran nuclear frozen assets negotiations, the absurd EU 21st sanctions package, and the Iran World Cup ban.

With June looking increasingly volatile across multiple flashpoints, is the collective West dangerously underestimating what is coming?

The Duran | Pressure to Walk Away From A Good Iran Deal | May 26, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
A credible Iran deal is sitting on the table and the United States is walking away from it.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down why the proposed memorandum of understanding, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pause the conflict and begin nuclear enrichment talks, actually serves American interests, and why a coordinated neocon pressure campaign led by Pompeo, Graham and Cruz is pushing Trump to reject it.

With US weapons inventories depleted, Iran stronger than ever, and Israel working furiously behind the scenes to prevent any settlement, the question is whether Trump has the resolve to stand up to the people who got him into this and secure a deal, or whether America is about to drift back into an even deeper debacle.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Iran deal breakdown and the back and forth
00:00:26 What is actually on the table: the memorandum of understanding explained
00:01:51 Why the deal objectively serves US interests including Hormuz and the fleet
00:02:56 The problem: America went in seeking regime change not nuclear limits
00:03:23 Pompeo, Graham and Cruz: neocon pressure campaign against any settlement
00:04:35 Impossible demands: Iran handing over its nuclear stockpile
00:05:24 Trump compares the deal to Obama and the JCPOA: what that reveals
00:06:48 Why this will likely end up as JCPOA 2 with Hormuz added
00:07:27 US weapons inventories depleted: the real weakness behind the threats
00:09:05 Neocons will not give up: this is their last chance for regime change
00:10:00 Israel, Lebanon and the ceasefire complication
00:10:32 Trump must choose: capitulate to neocons or stand firm and get a deal 00:12:12 What a memorandum of understanding actually means and why it may not hold
00:13:53 Trust collapse: can anything be rebuilt within 60 days?
00:15:14 Israel's fury: the balance of power in the Middle East is shifting

The Duran | Russia Unleashes Oreshnik, More Strikes Planned | May 25, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Russia has launched its most devastating missile strike on Kyiv to date, deploying the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system alongside Kinzhal and Zircon weapons in a massive coordinated assault that has left Western leaders visibly shaken.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris on The Duran break down how this strike was a direct response to Ukraine's attack on a student dormitory in Starobilsk, why Ukrainian air defenses completely failed while Moscow's held firm, and what the simultaneous collapse of ceasefire negotiations and China's hardening stance toward Russia means for the trajectory of the conflict. Is the West still telling its publics the truth about where this is all heading?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Russia's massive strike on Kyiv and the Oreshnik missile
00:01:11 Dormitory attack and Western media silence
00:02:53 Western governments disconnect the retaliation from its cause
00:03:25 Oreshnik hits command bunkers south of Kiev
00:05:28 Satellite photos reveal the scale of destruction
00:06:15 New mobile Zircon hypersonic launchers change the equation
00:07:11 Ukrainian air defense collapses compared to Moscow's defense
00:08:09 This is the first of many: Russian escalation plan ahead
00:09:43 The West insists Russia is showing weakness, not strength
00:12:39 Putin reemerges and hardens Russia's position post-Starobilsk
00:14:39 Negotiations are dead: Ushakov buries the Anchorage talks
00:18:42 Front lines update: Zaporizhzhia breakthrough and Kostiantynivka
00:19:52 Russian economy: deflation, rebound, and rate cuts ahead
00:22:50 Lavrov in China: Beijing now tells Russia to finish the fight
00:24:52 Russia funds this conflict with cash, not debt

Alex Christoforou | Russia Oreshnik Strike. Necons Furious Over Possible Iran Deal. Zelensky Rejects MERZ EU Offer | May 24, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
Russia launched its largest ever missile strike on Kiev, deploying an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile alongside Kinzhal, Iskander, and Zircon systems in a devastating assault on Ukrainian military infrastructure that overwhelmed air defenses across the capital.

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the strike from Moscow, explains why the US tipped off Ukraine hours in advance, and digs into the rapidly developing Iran nuclear memorandum of understanding that has neocons furious and Lindsey Graham threatening to derail Trump's off-ramp from the conflict. 

With Zelensky publicly rejecting the EU's associate membership offer and the Strait of Hormuz deal hanging in the balance, is the world on the edge of a major geopolitical reset or just another false dawn?

The Duran | China-Russia Alliance Locked In, Will Gloves Come Off? | May 24, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Putin returns from Beijing with 40 signed agreements covering energy, aviation, AI, and rare earths, while Xi Jinping and Russia have quietly dismantled the last barrier to a fully integrated economic alliance, leaving Europe and the United States with almost nothing to show for their own diplomatic efforts. 

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down what the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal, China's historic decree to shield its companies from US sanctions, and Russia's formal declaration as a civilizational state actually mean for the balance of global power. Is the multipolar world no longer a theory but a reality being signed into existence one deal at a time?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Putin and Xi summit overview
00:00:28 Power of Siberia 2 and the energy lockdown
00:01:12 Comparing Putin visit vs Trump visit to China
00:02:21 Nabiullina and financial system integration
00:03:43 China decree: ignoring US sanctions on Russian energy
00:06:08 Power of Siberia 2 signing ceremony imminent
00:07:38 Nuclear energy, AI and rare earths cooperation
00:09:00 Why Putin got deals and Trump got nothing
00:10:12 Aviation collaboration revival: Russia China aircraft
00:12:36 China rejects Boeing, forges ahead with own aviation
00:13:27 Russia declares itself a civilizational state, breaks from Europe
00:15:23 Putin returns to Moscow: drone attacks and Ukraine
00:16:24 European leaders hoping to provoke Russian retaliation
00:18:40 Trump and Putin expected to speak; Americans do not want escalation
00:19:30 Ukraine as a failing state and Putin's position of strength

The Duran | Iran Impasse: Trump Wants Airstrikes as Stockpiles Depleted | May 23, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
The United States finds itself in a deepening Iran impasse as new reporting confirms Iran has preserved most of its missile stockpile, is tracking and striking US stealth aircraft, and is outlasting the American economic blockade far longer than Washington predicted.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris on The Duran expose the full picture: US interceptors at half capacity, diplomacy going nowhere through Pakistan intermediaries, Gulf states panicking over desalination plant vulnerability, and the jaw-dropping New York Times revelation that the Israel and US regime change plan rested on installing the deeply discredited Ahmadinejad as Iran's next leader. Is this the biggest intelligence and strategic failure in American foreign policy in a generation?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Iran negotiations update and impasse explained
00:01:21 Iran's attack success: missiles and launchers mostly intact
00:02:57 Iran tracking and striking US stealth aircraft over Iran
00:03:58 Iran's economic resilience: Caspian and land routes holding
00:05:11 Pressure is on the US not Iran: energy crisis and depleted arsenals
00:07:41 US military told Trump: do not strike, we are not ready
00:09:38 Washington Post: US interceptor stockpiles at 50% and falling
00:13:54 Can a deal still happen? What proper diplomacy would look like
00:16:27 A waiting game: Trump stretching out the conflict, Iran outlasting him
00:20:03 Gulf states trapped: currency swaps, desalination fears and Saudi outreach
00:23:39 NYT revelation: Ahmadinejad was the US and Israel regime change plan
00:27:32 Neocon pattern: regime change obsession with no plan for the day after

Alex Christoforou | Raul Castro Indicted. UK Starmer Apologizes to Zelensky. Michael Bay's Iran Pilot Film | May 21, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
The Trump DOJ has indicted 94 year old Raul Castro, mirroring the Maduro playbook as US signals grow louder that Cuba could be next for a military incursion, while Trump and Netanyahu clash in a furious phone call over whether to pursue an Iran nuclear deal or launch a strike.

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the Iran letter of intent, the Trump Putin APEC meeting in China, Keir Starmer caving to Zelensky over Russian oil sanctions, and the EU's stunning admission that it has no Middle East policy. Is the world heading toward back to back confrontations in Cuba and Iran at the same time, or is there still a diplomatic off ramp?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction and welcome
00:01:44 Raul Castro indicted by Trump DOJ
00:03:34 The indictment details: Brothers to the Rescue 1996 shoot down
00:05:28 Trump statement on Cuba and possible incursion signals
00:08:44 Trump and Putin to meet at APEC summit in China
00:11:15 UK rolls back Russia oil sanctions under pressure
00:15:48 Starmer apologizes to Zelensky for pausing sanctions
00:17:28 Trump and Netanyahu angry phone call over Iran
00:19:24 The Iran letter of intent and 30 day negotiation window
00:22:49 NYT report: US and Israel planned to install Ahmadinejad as Iran leader
00:26:31 Merkel returns, Hollande eyes French presidency in 2027
00:31:34 Iran launches maritime insurance company, accepts Bitcoin
00:33:13 Kallas calls China trade policies a cancer at EU event
00:37:41 EU has no Middle East policy because everything is uncertain
00:39:33 Kallas says escalate against Russia, ignore drone incidents
00:42:34 Merz blames Putin for falling approval ratings in Germany
00:45:18 Wrap up and closing

Alex Christoforou | Putin-Xi, Multipolar World. Massie 2028? NATO fighter jets DESTROY drone. UK LOVES Russian oil | May 20, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
Thomas Massie has been defeated in the Kentucky primary by a candidate who refused to debate and barely campaigned, raising uncomfortable questions about money, power, and whether American elections can simply be purchased by the establishment. 

Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down the Massie loss and the 2028 speculation, then covers Putin's Beijing summit with Xi Jinping where 40 bilateral agreements are being signed, the NATO fighter jet that shot down a Ukrainian drone over Estonia, the UK quietly importing fuel refined from Russian oil as Western sanctions continue to collapse, and the US bond market flashing its most alarming signals since 2007. Is the global order reshaping itself faster than Western leaders are willing to admit?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction from Belgrade
00:01:43 Thomas Massie loses Kentucky primary: can elections be bought?
00:05:03 Massie hints at 2028 presidential run
00:07:00 Putin arrives in Beijing for Xi summit
00:08:14 Protocol watch: how China greeted Putin vs Trump
00:09:50 Financial Times caught trying to sabotage Putin Xi meeting
00:10:52 Russian ruble becomes world's best performing currency
00:12:36 UK quietly allows imports of Russian oil refined fuel
00:14:31 NATO fighter jet shoots down Ukraine drone over Estonia
00:20:57 AFD leader Alice Weidel outlines Germany foreign policy vision
00:22:41 US bond market flashing red: 30 year yield hits 2007 high
00:25:00 Trump gives Iran one week deadline
00:25:29 NATO plans to open Strait of Hormuz by July
00:25:55 Clown world roundup and wrap from Belgrade

The Duran | Armando Mema | Drones Over Helsinki. Finland Dragged Into Conflic | May 20, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Ukrainian drones have been crossing into Finnish airspace for the fifth time, forcing 2 million Helsinki residents to seek emergency shelter and raising urgent questions about whether Finland is being quietly dragged into the Ukraine conflict. 

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran are joined by Finnish analyst Armando Mema to examine why the Finnish government is not shooting down the drones, what Moscow really thinks about NATO member Finland allowing its territory to be used as a transit corridor, and how the country has gone from a model of peaceful neutrality to a front line of European insecurity. Is Finland paying the price for a NATO membership that offers far less protection than its leaders promised?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction and guest welcome
00:00:44 Russian deputy FM Ryabkov warns of Baltic conflict risk
00:02:24 Should Russia's warnings be taken seriously?
00:02:57 Helsinki drone incident on May 15: 2 million told to shelter
00:05:14 Whose drones are they? Finnish authorities confirm Ukrainian origin
00:07:50 How deep into Finnish territory are the drones penetrating?
00:09:21 Finnish public reaction: fear and debate at the cafes
00:11:46 Is Ukraine deliberately trying to drag Finland into the conflict?
00:15:46 Finland as a potential EU mediator with Russia
00:19:24 Finland changing its nuclear weapons hosting law

The Duran | Europe's Drone Escalation Gamble Is Spinning Out of Control | May 19, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Ukraine just launched its biggest ever drone strike on Moscow, and Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down what this unprecedented escalation really means: not a military breakthrough, but a desperate signal from Kyiv and European capitals that they are still in the fight even as the frontlines deteriorate and NATO rearmament continues to fall short. 

With the US pulling back, Tomahawk missile deals cancelled, and Europe unable to produce weapons at scale, the drone offensive is less a strategy and more a gamble that could spiral dangerously out of control. Is Russia holding back its deterrence for a reason, or is this the moment that changes the entire trajectory of the conflict in Europe?

The Duran | Ukraine's Yermak Scandal and the Money Trail | May 17, 2026

Source: The Duran youtube



Description:
Ukraine's corruption crisis is back at full force as Andriy Yermak, the man widely seen as the true power behind Zelensky, is now under arrest and facing money laundering charges tied to the explosive Firepoint scandal.

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down why this is not just about Ukrainian internal politics but about a deeper struggle between Zelensky's circle and Western power brokers in the EU and US who are fighting to control the flow of billions in Ukraine funding. Is the West finally cracking down on Ukraine corruption, or is this a carefully orchestrated move to remind Zelensky who really calls the shots in Kyiv?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Yermak under arrest
00:00:46 The golden toilets and Firepoint scandal
00:01:33 Ukraine's military industrial complex exposed
00:02:28 Who benefits from the corruption revelations?
00:03:32 Why is this scandal resurfacing now?
00:04:35 NABU and SAPO: Western controlled agencies
00:05:28 Is this about Zelensky defying the West?
00:06:28 EU slams the door on Ukraine membership
00:07:45 Are they protecting or pressuring Zelensky?
00:09:20 Yermak as the man who knows everyone

The Duran | Peak drone warfare. Putin's next terms and Zelensky's Kiev panic | May 17, 2026

Source: The Duran Youtube

Description:
The so called stalemate on the Ukraine front line is a myth, and the collapse of Donbas may be closer than Western media is letting on. Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris of The Duran break down the latest Ukraine front line update, covering Russia's massive escalating drone offensive, the near total destruction of Ukraine's air defenses, a worsening recruitment crisis, and the domino fall of key Donbas cities pointing toward a Russian ultimatum by autumn. Could Kyiv itself be Putin's next target, and what would Russia's final terms for Ukraine actually look like?

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction: Ukraine frontline reality check
00:00:26 Ukraine air defenses badly depleted
00:00:47 The stalemate narrative is false
00:01:10 Financial Times: Russia targets Donbas by autumn
00:01:38 Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia assessed
00:03:18 Russia's drone offensive: scale and sophistication
00:04:58 Fuel shortages and the personnel crisis
00:06:34 Forced recruitment reaching extreme levels
00:07:40 Frontline collapse: Zaporizhzhia, Kostiantynivka, Sloviansk
00:09:10 The domino effect: how cities fall in sequence
00:10:55 Pattern of Russian offensives: spring to autumn
00:11:58 Putin's terms: Odessa, Kyiv and federalisation
00:13:45 Zelensky must go: Russia's political demands
00:14:49 Is a march on Kyiv being prepared?
00:16:52 Financial Times sources and closing analysis

Alex Christoforou | Obama mocks Trump, Rubio mocks Russia military. Saudi plan to end Iran war. Latvia PM Elensky curse | May 15, 2026

Source: Alex Christoforou youtube



Description:
Barack Obama just admitted what many have long suspected: the Iran nuclear deal could have been saved, and Trump's rejection of the JCPOA had nothing to do with uranium enrichment.

Alex Christoforou breaks down Obama's appearance on Colbert, where he confirmed that 97% of Iran's enriched uranium was removed without a single shot fired — and why that inconvenient truth exposes the real agenda behind the current conflict.

Saudi Arabia is now pushing a Helsinki-style non-aggression pact to stabilize the region, but as The Duran analyzes, a non-aggression pact falls far short of the genuine security architecture the Middle East actually needs — the same kind Russia proposed to Biden in 2021, only to be ignored.

Meanwhile, Latvia's prime minister has become the latest casualty of the so-called Zelensky curse after Ukrainian drones crossed her airspace en route to Russia, bringing down her entire government in a single day. Is the West's unconditional support for Kiev finally starting to crack under the weight of its own contradictions?