Description:
Episode 2203. Trump and Putin have struck a surprise diesel deal, and Zelensky is furious, calling the US president weak. Alex breaks down the 90 minute Trump Putin phone call, the Russian diesel sanctions waiver running until April, what each side really gets out of it and why Europe was left out of the room, plus Merz versus Schroeder, Trump's Nobel Peace Prize snub and new US sanctions on the ICC. Is this the first real crack in the collective West sanctions wall, or just a midterm talking point?
Timeline:
00:00:00 Zelensky calls Trump weak
00:01:25 How big is the diesel deal really
00:03:14 Trump's Truth Social announcement
00:04:35 The 90 minute Trump Putin phone call
00:05:50 What Trump gets from the deal
00:07:30 What Putin gets, sanctions waiver until April
00:12:39 Refinery strikes send a message to Russia
00:15:10 Witkoff and Kushner brief Ukraine in Miami
00:19:20 Putin on resuming negotiations
00:21:59 Russia offers Iran uranium solution
00:23:14 Zelensky meltdown and Europe's anger
00:26:54 Zelensky vs Klitschko
00:28:53 Merz angry at Schroeder over Putin visit
00:31:24 Brussels protests, Nobel Prize snub, ICC sanctions
00:36:40 Clown World