At the Vatican during the Pope’s funeral, Trump and Zelensky had a significant meeting—their first since a heated Oval Office encounter in February. This meeting comes amid a lot of diplomatic activity, with US, Russian, and European leaders all engaged in talks. People are trying to figure out what Trump and Zelensky discussed, as their body language and PR releases from both sides paint very different pictures.

Trump has been publicly saying that peace talks are close, emphasizing the need to stop the war. He has also stated that Crimea will remain part of Russia, a stance directly opposed by Zelensky, who insists Ukraine’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable.

On Russia’s side, Putin has expressed readiness for dialogue—but notably with "Kyiv" (Ukraine) as a government, not specifically with Zelensky, whom Russia no longer recognizes as a legitimate leader because Ukraine hasn’t held recent elections.

Trust between Russia and the West is badly eroded. Russia remains skeptical of any promises from the US or Europe, especially since Western negotiators seem to suggest that any deal made under Trump could be reversed by a future administration.

There are also massive gaps between the demands of each side:

Russia wants demilitarization and "denazification" of Ukraine.

Ukraine seeks a full ceasefire, territorial integrity, and security guarantees.

Europe remains firmly against appeasing Putin, with many European leaders urging Trump not to negotiate with Russia.

Despite Trump’s optimism about being close to a deal, actual convergence between the parties appears very unlikely, with wide disagreements still in place.

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The discussion centers around the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting contrasting perspectives from Western and Russian sides.

Lavrov's Demeanor: Lavrov is described as calm and measured, never losing his temper, only raising his voice for emphasis.

Media Appearance: Lavrov appeared on CBS's Face the Nation, responding skeptically to Western narratives and questioning the sincerity of U.S. intentions, notably calling out contradictions in U.S. messaging about peace talks.

Western Unity Critiqued: The speakers argue that the West is united mainly in its animosity toward Russia, not in any coherent strategy, and lacks resources and planning for real conflict or peacekeeping.

British Military Involvement: A British colonel contacted one speaker about a "small" peacekeeping team being prepared for Ukraine, but the speaker questions the logic, noting Russia's firm stance that uninvited peacekeepers would be treated as enemy combatants.

Sovereignty vs. Strategy: The conversation critiques the West’s position that Ukraine, as a sovereign nation, can align with whoever it wants. While technically true, the speakers argue it ignores the practical consequences of provoking Russia.

Compromise as Maturity: The importance of compromise is emphasized. Using a neighborly analogy, the speaker suggests that escalating tension without consideration for the other's response is immature and counterproductive.

Russian Perspective: Lavrov and other Russian officials maintain they are open to dialogue but expect basic decency. They believe European leaders are playing political games, using aggressive rhetoric to retain power, and that Russia will wait for the West to come back to the table.

Zelensky Criticized: The Russian ambassador described Ukrainian President Zelensky as an actor prolonging the war rather than seeking peace, and reiterated that Russia will continue fighting until a true agreement is reached.

Western Narrative vs. Reality: The speakers suggest that while Western leaders like Macron accuse Putin of lying about wanting peace, Russia sees itself as defending against persistent hostility. The West equates ongoing military action with an unwillingness to negotiate, whereas Russia says it will only stop fighting after an agreement is made, not before.

Trump’s Potential Role: There's speculation about Donald Trump potentially walking away from the conflict if a resolution isn’t reached, but also a belief that he wants to be seen as a peacemaker and might push for a deal before doing so.

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Russia's Military Buildup (2021): Russia began increasing its military presence near Ukraine in April 2021. One cited reason was Ukraine’s President Zelensky signing a law about reclaiming Crimea, possibly by force.

Pre-War Tensions and Justification: Russia claimed Ukraine rejected the Minsk agreements, escalated threats toward Donbas, and was preparing a March 2022 attack. Russia labeled its invasion as a preemptive strike to protect Donetsk and Luhansk amid intensified Ukrainian shelling and refugee flows into Russia.

Diplomatic Attempts: Russia asserted it had tried to engage with the West, NATO, and the U.S. diplomatically before launching the invasion, proposing treaties on European security.

Sanctions and Resilience: Russia argued that Western sanctions have not crippled its economy. They claimed economic self-reliance and even growth, and dismissed the notion that more sanctions or arms for Ukraine would change the war’s outcome.

View on U.S. Strategy: Russia rejected claims that more pressure from the U.S. would bring them to the negotiating table, asserting they’ve always been open to peace talks but won’t stop the war unless their terms are met.

Trump’s Alleged Peace Plan: Russia declined to comment on speculative reports of Trump’s seven-point peace proposal, saying such media stories aren’t reliable or official.

Putin’s Official Conditions (as of June 2024): Russia demands Ukraine:

Withdraw from all four claimed regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson),

Commit to neutrality, non-alignment, and no nuclear weapons,

Undergo “demilitarization” and “denazification.”

Verification and Trust Issues: Russia insists future peace would require enforceable guarantees, especially monitoring mechanisms, which they say failed under the Minsk agreements.

Failed Ceasefire Attempts: Russia accused Ukraine of violating a 30-day energy infrastructure truce and an Easter ceasefire, calling them proof that Ukraine is untrustworthy or lacks internal command control.

Definitions of Terms (brief mention):

Demilitarization: Likely involves limiting Ukraine's military capacity to a level deemed non-threatening by Russia (referencing Istanbul draft agreements from 2022).

Denazification: Not clearly defined here, but remains a stated condition for ending the war.

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On Truth Social, Trump criticized Russia’s recent missile strikes on Kyiv, calling them “not necessary” and “bad timing.”

He urged Putin to stop and claimed that 5,000 soldiers are dying weekly.

Trump emphasized his desire to finalize a peace deal.

Russian Strike on Kyiv:

A significant attack on Kyiv occurred, including what appeared to be hypersonic missiles and drones.

At least one direct hit was confirmed; there are questions about whether some explosions were due to Ukrainian air defenses malfunctioning.

This type of strike on the capital is rare and seen as a strong signal.

Negotiation Dynamics:

Trump claims Russia is ready to negotiate peace, but Ukrainian President Zelensky is rejecting terms proposed by the Trump team.

Zelensky continues to insist on full Ukrainian territorial integrity, including Crimea.

Trump sees Zelensky as stubborn and unrealistic, contrasting him with Putin, who Trump says is at least willing to negotiate under defined conditions.

Longstanding Tensions:

The video suggests the war could’ve been avoided had Ukraine honored the Minsk agreements, which would’ve given limited autonomy to regions like Donetsk and Luhansk.

It argues that Russia has consistently been open to negotiated settlements, but the West and Ukraine have resisted.

Trump’s Frustration:

Trump feels disrespected by Zelensky, who has publicly dismissed Trump’s peace proposals and called out U.S. leaders for being “duped by Russian propaganda.”

Trump believes his approach is the only realistic path to peace but feels blocked by Zelensky’s unwillingness to compromise.

Crimea’s Status:

A major sticking point: Russia considers Crimea legally theirs, embedded in their constitution.

Trump’s team believes recognizing Russian control of Crimea is essential for peace.

Zelensky refuses, holding to Ukraine’s claim and sovereignty over all territory.

Bottom Line:

Trump sees Putin as serious and rational, while Zelensky is viewed as confrontational and unrealistic.

The Russian strike on Kyiv is interpreted as a warning: if Ukraine doesn’t engage in negotiations, the conflict will escalate.

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The discussion heavily criticizes Ukrainian President Zelensky, calling his recent public statements delusional and inflammatory, particularly about Crimea and the broader war with Russia. It suggests Zelensky is disconnected from the dire military situation on the ground and has no real leverage, implying his comments only prolong the conflict.

There’s speculation that Trump might have intentionally sabotaged a Ukraine deal by pushing unrealistic demands. U.S. officials, including the Vice President, are reportedly signaling readiness to walk away from diplomacy if an agreement isn’t reached soon. They propose freezing territorial lines to stop the killing, but stress time is running out.

Meanwhile, Russia—through Kremlin spokesman Peskov—has made it clear it will not give up any of the territories it has annexed, calling the matter non-negotiable. Putin is said to be preparing for a prolonged military push, expanding Russia's military capabilities and strategy.

Several commentators argue that the U.S. public doesn’t grasp the real cost of war the way Russians do, due to vastly different historical experiences. The talk ends with predictions that Zelensky’s time in power is limited—suggesting he may soon be ousted, disappear, or flee as Russia increases pressure and the U.S. potentially withdraws support.

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The discussion centers on the stalled diplomatic efforts to negotiate a resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, particularly over Crimea and Russian-occupied territories. The U.S. proposed a deal that would involve recognizing Crimea as Russian, which President Zelensky firmly rejected. The guest, international relations expert John Mearsheimer, says it's unsurprising because neither Zelensky nor influential Ukrainian political forces would accept such terms. He also notes the Russians are unlikely to accept the current U.S. proposal either.

Mearsheimer argues the U.S. administration is internally divided—some are willing to concede to Russia's key demands, while others strongly oppose it—making it nearly impossible to craft a unified, coherent position. The failed meeting in London, which saw top officials like Secretary of State Rubio pull out, likely signals that the proposal was dead on arrival, and perhaps intentionally so, giving the U.S. a pretext to withdraw from the process.

He also critiques the rampant deception in international diplomacy, noting that excessive lying erodes credibility, making genuine negotiations harder. Mearsheimer concludes that a diplomatic resolution is unlikely and predicts the war will ultimately be settled on the battlefield.

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The speaker criticizes how the Ukraine war is being handled and portrayed, arguing there’s a major disparity in how events are viewed by the West versus other perspectives. Key points include:

1. Use of Civilians as Shields: The Ukrainian military allegedly used civilian areas and people as shields in cities like Mariupol, leading to massive destruction. Ukrainian snipers were reportedly positioned in civilian zones, preventing people from fleeing to maintain strategic advantages.
2. Western Narrative and Prolonging the War: The speaker argues that Western support for Ukraine is less about helping the country and more about continuing the conflict to oppose Russia. They suggest the West, particularly Europe, is unwilling to pursue peace, instead waiting for a future U.S. Democratic administration to continue backing the war.
3. Critique of European Leadership: European politicians are labeled as unrealistic and heavily influenced by pro-U.S. organizations. The speaker claims they are sacrificing their citizens’ welfare for a war they cannot sustain, financially or militarily.
4. Inevitability of Peace on Russian Terms: The speaker believes Russia has already won the war, and a peace agreement must accept Putin’s demands—meaning Ukraine cedes some territory. They endorse Donald Trump’s plan for ending the conflict, viewing it as the only viable path forward.
5. Collapse of the EU Predicted: There's a prediction that the EU will fragment within a decade due to economic strain from the war. Countries like Hungary may leave the union, and the cost of rebuilding Ukraine would be unbearable for major European economies.
6. Trump’s Role: The speaker supports Trump’s stance, suggesting only the U.S. under Trump can pressure Ukraine and Europe into ending the war. They even recommend U.S. control over Ukraine’s nuclear facilities to prevent potential sabotage.
7. Historical Parallel to WWII: A comparison is drawn between Ukraine’s current situation and Germany in 1945—suggesting that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine and prolonging it only leads to more destruction.

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U.S. and NATO policy toward Russia and Ukraine has been misguided and aggressive, particularly since 2014, when figures like Victoria Nuland helped cultivate a regime in Ukraine hostile to Russia.

The U.S. should have withdrawn from Ukraine early during Trump's presidency, cutting aid and normalizing relations with Russia, which is described as strategically essential.

Putin’s intentions are portrayed as consistent and focused on removing the root causes of the conflict, not just stopping attacks. The speaker sees him as sincere.

Zelensky is depicted as a major obstacle to peace, unwilling to make concessions because any peace deal would lead to his political downfall.

The Biden administration and Western elites are criticized for pushing a narrative of permanent hostility with Russia and for allegedly prioritizing globalist goals over peace.

Trump is criticized for thinking he could broker a deal, rather than just pulling out decisively.

NATO leadership, particularly Jens Stoltenberg, is portrayed as delusional for thinking Europe can prepare for a permanent standoff with Russia, especially given economic issues like German deindustrialization.

The speaker predicts a collapse of the current globalist political order, including leaders like Stoltenberg and von der Leyen, and calls for a more realistic, stability-focused foreign policy.

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Trump was weighing military action against Iran versus a diplomatic resolution.

While he often used strong rhetoric, he typically avoided actual military escalation.

Trump’s Approach:

He withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018, criticizing it for not covering missile programs.

Despite talk of a "better deal," no new agreement was reached during his term due to maximalist demands and internal administration resistance.

Iran’s Response:

Iran initially remained within JCPOA limits after U.S. withdrawal, but eventually resumed enrichment as sanctions were reimposed.

It now holds over 8,200 kg of enriched uranium, compared to the 300 kg cap under the JCPOA, and enriches up to 60%, just short of weapons-grade (90%).

Motivations Behind Iran's Enrichment:

Experts suggest Iran’s enrichment is likely a negotiation tactic rather than a clear step toward building a bomb.

U.S. intelligence has confirmed that Iran has not decided to weaponize its nuclear program.

Internal Debate in Iran:

Some Iranian hardliners advocate for weaponization, citing distrust of U.S. intentions.

However, the Supreme Leader has not made a final decision.

Impact of U.S. Policy:

The abandonment of the deal and pressure tactics may have inadvertently pushed Iran closer to nuclear capabilities, the opposite of the intended outcome.

A military strike could accelerate Iran's move toward weaponization, making diplomacy more critical than ever.

Recent Remarks by Trump (March 7):

Trump hinted that a decision was imminent regarding Iran, suggesting either a peace deal or decisive action was coming soon.

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