The Duran Podcast - Trump-Putin call; US-Russia on track towards deal (Live)

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

Trump-Putin call; US-Russia on track towards deal (Live)

All right. We are live again. Alexander, long time, no see. Absolutely. Two lives, two lives in the space of a day. But there we go. Events. There's a famous prime minister in Britain, McMillan, who was asked, what do you most fear? He said, events, dear boy. Events. There we go, events. Yep, absolutely. Let's see. Are we live? Is everything all right? Just one second, Alexander, because I set this up so quickly. Yeah. I think we're live. Yeah. Peter, are we live?

Yeah. Yeah, all right. Absolutely. Okay. Alexander, we had the phone call. Trump and Putin. It ended about, I want to say about an hour ago, let's say, give or take. Yeah.

And we have the readout from the Kremlin, which is the one that I think matters. Absolutely. Absolutely. Right. Yeah. And you sent me the readout, so before we went live, you sent me the readout. So what is going on? Well, the first thing to say is that this readout was published within minutes of the end of the call,

which tells me that some parts of it were written even probably before the call was taking to place. And perhaps during the time when the call was happening. So the Kremlin was very, very keen to get its own account of the call out. as quickly as possible. And it's not surprising. There's been so much misrepresentation and distortion of things that it's understandable

that they would want to go live on this. So first things first, Putin has given away nothing. I think that is an important thing. There's a lot of speculation on some parts of the internet that Putin was going to agree to the ceasefire, the unconditional ceasefire, that he was going to accept the European peacekeepers,

all of those things, that he was going to walk all. of that back. He did nothing of the sort. He made it absolutely clear that the things that he said in his press conference last week remain absolutely in place. He wants military aid to Ukraine to stop. He wants intelligence sharing with Ukraine to stop. He is not going to shift from that position one bit. And I think we can take that as read. He has agreed to try. Trump's proposal for a cessation of attacks on the Ukrainian energy system. But this looks like a concession, a big concession, but in fact, it isn't.

And I explain why. Firstly, it is only for 30 days. Now, if you follow Russian missile strikes with the care and attention that Alex and I do, you will know that they usually happen over periods of 30 days. You have one big strike that 30 days later, when presumably they've manufactured more missiles and have kept an eye on what's going on in Ukraine, that's when they launched the missiles again.

So actually, it doesn't make any difference. And notice it's a ceasefire, so it's presumably a bilateral ceasefire. If the Ukrainians breach it by launching drone attacks on the Russian energy system, as they're very, very likely to do. It's entirely possible that the Russians will say that the ceasefire is breached and they can go back and start launching missile strikes again.

So this isn't actually a concession. I want to say that to the people who are watching this program. Obviously, and it's entirely understandable why, Trump will treat it as one and will say that it is one. And one can understand why, and one should not criticize him for doing that, because he has to come back and show to people that he's getting things from Putin. But we, the community, know a bit better.

The other thing is about this no interference in shipping in the Black Sea. There's never been any real interference in commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Not at any point in the war. This is a misunderstood issue. Much talk at various times about a Russian blockade. naval blockade of Odessa. We had something that sort of resembled that in the first weeks of the war, but in practice the Russians have never interfered with commercial shipping from Odessa. They know perfectly well that if they did, it would be extremely badly received by many of their friends in the global south

who continue to import grain and foodstuffs from Ukraine. So it's important to say this. Putin conceded nothing. He weighed his point that there has to be a full resolution. It must address the root causes of the conflict. He impressed on Trump that he is keen to get a negotiated solution. And just as I said, by the way, in a video that I've done earlier today, which you'll be seeing on my channel in a very short time. Exactly.

I said that they would set up an expert meeting to talk about how possible ceasefire might be worked out. And that's exactly what's happened. You find the reference to the expert meeting in this readout. I also, by the way, said that what, Trump was talking about power stations and ports was probably a tax on the energy system and on shipping in the black. See, I said that also in my program. And everybody's called me, by the way. It's just that, you know, we follow the use.

Alex and I follow this very, very closely. So we could see how this was coming, but that's what we do. You know, Alex said in our latest live, we do 25 programs a week or something like this. Well, doing 25 programs a week means that we have our finger on the events and we can see the way things are going. The most important single paragraph in the readout, by far the most important, is one which says, if I can just get hold of it, it says the following. the leaders confirmed their intention to continue efforts to achieve a Ukrainian settlement in a bilateral mode, including taking into account the above-mentioned proposals of the US president. For this purpose, Russian and American expert groups are being created in a bilateral mode. In other words, from this moment on, the negotiations are between.

Russia and the United States directly. Ukraine is not involved, nor are the Europeans. The Americans and the Russians are going to negotiate the end of the conflict with each other. That's huge. The Ukrainians, exactly, it's huge. The Ukrainians will be floating around, they will have that there,

but they will have their own negotiating team, but ultimately be the Americans and the Russians who will decide the settlement and the Ukrainians will be presented with the terms. Now, saying that makes it sound rather more simple than it really is. The Ukrainians will probably protest the terms. They will say they won't accept them. They'll go to their European friends. That's all in the future.

But Trump and Putin have agreed in this conversation that it will be the United States and Russia that will decide how to settle the conflict with each other. Yeah, so the Zelensky regime will go to the Europeans. The Europeans will try to sabotage these agreements that have been made, this understanding that has been made during this phone conversation. The forces in London, in D.C., in Paris, the neocons, they're going to try to sabotage all of this. Yes.

What are your thoughts about that? Well, that's exactly right. I mean, I should say that when the Russians and the Americans are setting up expert groups, it leaves no space for Starmes' plan to insert European peacekeepers or anything of that kind. But we're going to have media campaigns. We're going to have political leaders complaining about this. We're going to have Zelensky complaining about this. There is going to be a massive political campaign to try to block this.

I don't think it's going to work in the end, because as we've seen, the United States ultimately has enormous leverage over Ukraine. And the United States wants a peace agreement. It wants a peace agreement with Russia. It wants to move on to improve relations with Russia. Other parts of the readout, which I'm not going to spend time on today, are about improving relations between Russia and the United States. is a priority for the Trump administration. I don't think they're going to let these objections from the neocons and the Democrats, whose popularity in the United States is continuing to fall. Now, that's an important thing to bear in mind, despite all of the problems we've been hearing

about in the economy, the American people continue to turn away from them. I don't think all the objections from the Europeans, the Democrats, the neocons, all of these. discredited people, these terrible people who got us into this crisis, are going to derail the Trump administration from what he wants to do, which is to end the war and to reestablish good relations with Russia, or at least if not good relations with Russia, at least a rapprochement with Russia so that things can go back to the way they were before Obama basically wrecked everything during the period when he was president. normal normal relations which which has been Russia's goal from the beginning of

of these negotiations absolutely even beyond Ukraine their goal has always been the normalization of relations between the US and Russia exactly and to repeat again given that this is the purpose the overriding objective of the US administration what we're going to end up with is something that is not that far from Istanbul plus Just a second. So beware of the sabotage. Beware of false flags. A lot of stuff is going to be tried.

Yeah, a lot of stuff is going to be tried. So there is a lot of concern about the, I'm looking in the chat right now about the energy infrastructure agreement. From Grugash 1001, Putin has agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure for $30, days after Zelensky's attack on Bergerud, why would he do that? Well, I say, explain it again. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's giving, he's giving something to Trump. He's giving to Trump something that Trump can go back and tell his people, look, I'm actually making progress with Putin. But in fact, it's a concession that isn't really a concession at all.

because if you follow Russian missile attacks in Ukraine, they don't happen every day. They happen usually there's one big missile attack every month. We've just had one a few days ago, in fact. So it's likely that the next big missile strike is anyway only scheduled to happen in 30 days. So it's not a big concession. In fact, in practice, in reality, it is not a concession. at all. Yeah. There's something about a hockey match as well, right? Yeah, absolutely, which is, you know,

good sign. It's a sign that, you know, they're starting to move on sports and things of that kind. The Russians are crazy about hockey. Of course, they mean ice hockey. Just to make that clear to the United States has also pulled out of the investigative committees as well. I don't know if you want to talk about that. Absolutely. That was set up by Biden and, you know, Harris was setting all these committees up to investigate Russia and to investigate Putin as well. Absolutely. And Trump basically pulled the plug on all of that. He said, this is not going to get you can say anywhere. This is absurd. I mean, he didn't say that. But anyway, they pulled the plug on that. So that was a, that was a gesture, a conciliatory gesture to the Russians.

And by the way, it's not been widely reported, but the Russians reciprocated in the few, over the last couple of hours, before this conversation happened, the Russians allowed some American shareholders of shares in Russian companies to actually trade in those shares again and to sell them. So those shares have been frozen, and the Russians allowed them to do that.

So these are the sort of friendly moves that each side take mix to the other. when a process of rapprochement starts. Let's see, Alexander, from Commander Crossfire, double live day. What a treat great work, guys. Thank you for that. Graugosh 1001.

Thank you for that. Super chat. Commander Crossfire says, Beware of those that come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. The Russians should keep in mind the U.S. was and is behind it all. Well, we discussed this in a video. Yeah.

We discussed this in a video that we recorded the other day that it's not an easy pitch from Putin to the Russians, the rep Rushman with the United States. I mean, you discussed this. Absolutely. But I mean, just to repeat again, Putin has given away nothing over the course of this call. He's told Trump, absolutely, you want peace, I want peace. You want peace in Ukraine? I want peace in Ukraine. But I'm going to get that peace on my deal.

turns. That's what he's telling Trump. He's not given an inch. He says he wants the root causes of the conflict resolved. He's went to great lengths about how the Zelensky regime simply cannot be trusted, something about which, by the way, Trump himself undoubtedly agrees. So, I mean, but is there in the Russian readout. And he's not agreeing to a unconditional 30-day cease. fire. I never thought he would. They're going to be expert panels and this will probably take a long time to work out, maybe several weeks. And in the meantime, the Russians and the Americans are going to move forward, talking to each other about the framework of the peace, which will be presented to the Ukrainians and which they will have to agree to. So the Russians are not trusting anybody. They're not

trusting Trump. They probably like him. They probably say. sense that this man has good intentions, but they know perfectly well that in four years time he'll be gone, and they also know perfectly well that he's got lots of opponents in the United States. They're not giving anything away. So, you know, I don't think the Russians need your advice. I mean, it's good that you highlight this fact on our lives, because it's important for us to be reminded of this, but I don't think Putin, which, by the way, delivered a very powerful speech to a group of industrialists about how Russia should not expect sanctions relief, any substantive sanctions relief. I don't think the Russians are fooled or at least, you know,

are naive at all about this process going forward. Explain why it's important, Alexander, for the readout to say that Ukraine, that Zelensky cannot be trusted. I think that's important. important that it's in this readout in the form of a phone call between Trump and Putin. I think that's got to be worrying the Europeans and Zelensky. It's going to terrify the Europeans and it's going to horrify Zelensky. I mean, the Americans and the Russians, I'm sure they didn't talk about it explicitly over the course of this conversation. but those words, those words in that readout from Putin and, you know,

what Putin actually said to Trump. What Putin is saying to Trump is, for God's sake, get rid of this man in Kiev. Zelensky is impossible. The whole crowd of people that surround him are impossible. They have consistently obstructed ever since the 2014 Maidan coup. every attempt towards a resolution, a negotiated resolution of this crisis, they will do so again. You have met Zelensky, you've seen what he's like, you've seen what the people around him are like. You know, as well as we do, that we cannot achieve peace through negotiations with these people,

because even if they appear to make concessions, as they did to your people in Jeddah, they will immediately walk them back, as they, by the way, have done directly after that meeting in Jeddah. So the only way we can deal with this is one, we've got to get rid of Zelensky. And if we can't get rid of him now, we have got to sort this thing out together because there's no other way. All right. NEP 13, thank you for that super chat. Alexander, a question from Bad Wolf, Y, Y, Yikes.

Does the readout address continued military support to Ukraine? Yes. It says that there must be no further military hate to Ukraine and no more intelligence sharing. And that's the only basis upon which the Russians would even consider a ceasefire. So, I mean, it's there. It's actually there in the readout. Elza says, in case Trump and Putin have divided the world, will Germany be split in two parts again? I'm just asking for friends who would like to go to the eastern part in time. But German media is in panic. They are in panic.

They're right to be. No, there will be no division of Germany. But basically for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, that the Germans don't want division. I mean, there may be lots of disagreements between East Germans and West Germans. But nobody wants to go back to the situation of, you know, divided Germany and Berlin Wallers or anything of that kind. And from the perspective of the Russians, having within Germany, which is a big potentially powerful country in Europe, a large region and its capital whose people are friendly to themselves is an entirely good thing. If you split East Germany from West Germany, you would end up having the richer part of Germany, which is the West, once again, hostile to Russia.

Yeah, Mort Vader says, love your shows and live streams, guys. Here's a little contribution to improve Alexander's internet connection. Thank you, Mort Vader. He's been having some trouble in the connection today, but we got him twice. Yeah, twice on the live stream, so that's good. Renulf White Wolf says, why do Libs who cry over Gaza want Slavs to die in vain to weaken Russia? How is Ukraine defending the West when other Westerners are jailed for wanting sovereignty, but they cheer on neo-Nazis. A friend of mine actually called me and asked me that

very question today. And that friend, by the way, lives in Berlin, just to say. So you're absolutely right. The hypocrisy, the deception is just off the scale. I'm not going to try to unpack the inconsistencies of all of this. They are there for everyone to see. You've described them very well. That's the kind of people that liberals are. They hate Russians. They look the other way from what's happening in the Middle East. These are people who are, frankly, well, I was going to use a very rude word, but I'm not a rude man. So I'm not going to. Game of Care says, given the UK's yearly contribution to the Ukraine Slush Fund, will this not be the precursor to a coming terrorist campaign. Well, that is not impossible at all. And by the way, just to say, the readout,

the same readout that we've been talking about, Putin talks in very, very great length about Russian anger over war crimes. They say the Ukrainians conducted in Kuzk. So the Russians have perfectly well aware of all of that. The Ukrainians, it is an officially admitted fact now. have conducted assassination campaigns, including inside Russia itself. It's entirely possible that we will see that again. The Russians have shown an incredible ability to absorb that, but they will be closing in on all the people who are behind it. Rockabilly, thank you for that. Super Chat.

The Palantir says, how will Europe, Ukraine, react to this phone call? With horror. I mean, this phone call is the worst nightmare for them. the Americans, the Russians, talking about how to settle the conflict in Ukraine with each other, bilaterally, without Ukraine, without the Europeans. This is the worst outcome that they could have had. Yeah, agreed bilaterally. That's the key word. Trevor Back says, any thought on the future of Odessa?

Well, I've said this many times. I don't expect this conflict to end without the Russians. establishing some settling to their satisfaction, the issue of Adessa. We've discussed in previous programs how that might be achieved through a process of federalization of whatever parts of Adessa, or Ukraine, rather, are left. We'll just have to wait and see. But I am sure that Adessa will come up in the discussions moving forward. Zick-Nas says Trump is a mad and dangerous liar and a con man

Biden 2.0 siding with and blessing as of as of vistas how will Russia stay firm in its goals and not dishonor those who made sacrifices in the SMO well first of all I'm not sure

I'm not convinced that I agree with you about this I mean Trump has taken on significant political risks by dealing with the Russians. I don't see what he gains by doing this. So I'm not sure that I agree with your characterization of Trump. But putting that aside, you've seen how the Russians reacted.

They have given away nothing. They did not give an inch in this discussion. On the contrary, I think they sense that the Americans are moving closer to the Russian position rather than the other way. But of course, there's still a lot of discussion to go. Exactly. No doubt about that,

that they're moving closer to Istanbul Plus, to June 2024, without a doubt. Sage Warrior says, whether you come from the left or the right, populism means the same thing of by and for the people. We the people have so much more in common

than we have differences. We just need to work together and we will succeed. I completely agree with you. I hate this word populism. The people who use it as a bad word, as far as I'm concerned, are people who hate democracy. Because being popular is part of being successful as a politician in democracies. I mean, I just don't understand how that expression ever became a term of abuse. Chili Pepper says, just appreciate everything you are doing for us.

Thank you, Shirley Pepper. Solid Freeman says, good day. what do you guys think about the militarization of Europe? Will Germany and the EU become the next U.S. proxy against Russia? They won't become the next U.S. proxy against Russia. They'll become the next, how shall I put it, the next collapsed economy, the next broken state or whatever it is. I mean, that's where this is going.

I mean, you know, we've had that vote today in Germany. Germany, exactly. with the Greens getting concessions. So even more money piled on all of the other money. This is anybody who knows Germany as well as idea would tell you that this is a complete disaster in the making. We've been saying it for about two and a half years now that the future of Europe is going to be tourism

and putting money into military adventures. For two and a half years, we've been saying that. That's exactly where they're heading towards. There's tourism and there's going to be putting money in in all of these military slash funds. That's exactly what you're doing. Yeah, absolutely. Trading trading, trading wizard said, do you not think that once a peace treaty comes in effect, Ukraine will rearm with European help to the teeth and the next major conflict seeds will get sown?

That time, it could be even a greater conflict. Maybe Russia is making a mistake. Right. Okay. Now, this is a very good point. I think, first of all, that the peace treaty, if it comes, will contain provisions to prevent that. I mean, the Russians will insist on limitations to the size of Ukraine's army and the kind of equipment it has and that kind of thing. That was part of the original Istanbul draft agreement.

There were still lots of issues to iron out there, but the Ukrainians conceded reductions in their armed forces. So if the Ukrainians go back on all of that, the Russians will be able to see it because they'll be able to keep track on what the Ukrainians are doing. However, it is not impossible that what you say will happen. But do you understand one thing, if we get Istanbul Plus and maybe demilitarized zones that go beyond the four regions and things of that kind, Ukraine, even if it gets rearmed, will be in a much weaker position to take on the Russians, then it will be in a much weaker position to take on the Russians. than it was in 2022. And of course, it will be taking on the Russians from a position of having been defeated in the war we've just had.

By contrast, the Russians are going to continue to get stronger. Now, I've said this already. Yes, Ukraine did use the seven years after Minsk, the Minsk agreement, to rearm. And that is the reason the war has last, as long as it has done. But Russia also used those seven years very effectively. It built up its industrial base. It modernized its manufacturing. That's why it's able to produce all of those weapons. It sorted out its diplomacy. It built up bricks. And it created the alternative

to swift. It did all of those things that sanctioned proofed its economy. So when the economic attack came, which is always the most dangerous, they were ready and they were stood in. So next time, if there is a second round, we can be confident that the balance will have shifted further towards the Russians. Yeah, it was that economic attack. That was nasty. That was that was the attack that was going to bring down the Putin government, that economic attack. Yeah, exactly. Serafim says, is the 30-day ceasefire against energy infrastructure play into someone's hands? Who does it benefit most? Is it a good trade-off for Russia?

It's a very good trade-off. It benefits both Putin and Trump, because Putin is conceding nothing, because, as I said, it's likely that the next Russian attack on the energy infrastructure is anyway scheduled for 30-in-to-haping. happen in 30 days time. Bear in mind, again, just to repeat, missile attacks of this kind usually happen at intervals of around 30 days. So it's good for Putin because he's not conceding anything of substance, but it's also good for Trump as well, because he can go back to Washington and say to them, look, Putin is listening to me. I made this proposal and he immediately agreed. And the drone strikes into Russia also stop.

Well, indeed. Pin-prick attacks, but they stop. They stop. Well, pinprick attacks which do kill people. Yeah, which kill people. I mean, people have done as a result of them. Exactly. So those stop.

And if Ukraine breaks the disagreement, then the Trump administration is going to see that. So it's going to work against the Zelensky regime. Commander Crossfire says these last few years with Russia and the United States at each other's throats has been a godsend for African states like Niger plus North Korea. Hopefully they will not forget.

I don't think they will forget. If you're talking about the Russians, I don't think they will forget. We're not going to discuss it in this program because it's a huge program by itself. But Putin had a big meeting with Russian industrial. today. He said sanctions are going to remain. We've got to be prepared for that.

Economic pressure in our country is going to continue. We continue, we must therefore continue to build up our economic links and partnerships and friendships with other countries. So it's a big discussion, but the Russians are not going to forget it. After what Putin said today at that event, what was that event, Alexander? Yeah, it's right. It's the meeting of the, the Society of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. It's Russia's big employers' union, if I can say. And it's led by man called Shokhin, who's basically run it since around the time when the Soviet Union collapsed.

So he's a very, very experienced official in Russian affairs. But as I said, it's basically Russian business, if I could put it like this. Yeah, but listen to what Putin said, and you'll, you'll understand that he's not going to get fooled by anybody. Yeah. His comments today were very clear that Russia understands that the sanctions could snap back on, that the dollar can be weaponized again, and they're not going to fall back into any traps.

Yeah. Chili Pepper says, it would be strange to see the granddaughter of an NAZI who probably speaks of her grandfather's feet presiding over the UN General Assembly in the year, marking the 80th anniversary of victory. Maria Zaghara. Was that a real quote from Zaharva? Wow.

Okay. Thank you. Not happy. I mean, I haven't seen that. No. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's everybody's, this is bare book. Apparently the German government is deluded enough to think that she can take.

Oh, I hope she gets it. I hope she gets it. Oh, I think it's a great thing. I think it'd be a great thing, actually. I mean, it would be wonderful for programs like ours. I mean, think of last week. Absolutely. Sparky says, was Tulsi in on her, was Tulsi in or on her way to India when the U.S.

bombed Yemen, was she kept out of the loop on attacking Yemen? Did Walt Rubio at all wait for her to be out of the way to manipulate Trump? Well, I'm going to say straight away that I didn't know that she was on her way to India whilst this happened. I'm not going to jump to any conclusions. I don't know. But I repeat what I said. What we were talking about, actually, on our previous live, the one we did earlier today with Danny Highphone. It looks to me as if Trump is becoming too absorbed with Ukraine. So the result is whilst he, and perhaps even more importantly, White Gov, Wigov, were working the phones with Putin and meeting with Putin. and having all those discussions with ushikov and all of that the middle east blew up behind their backs i think that is the most likely explanation of what we have seen so not just trump not just whitkoff perhaps tulsie as well but i don't know about telson fractured zero one thank you for that super sticker from uh william if blair finally works out that stammer needs to back pedal how will blair

tell Stommer to do the backpedaling. Well, that's a very good question. Well, I'm going to say straight away, I think Blair has much more support in the parliamentary Labour Party. I don't mean the grassroots of the Labour Party. I mean the party, the main party, the party in Parliament,

than Stama does. So if Blair decides to organise a rebellion against Stama, I think Stama would fall, actually. And there is a clear candidate to take over from Starma, who is West Streeting, who is a, I find him, I mean, I can't stand him myself, and he's awful British Labour politician, but he's known to be very, very close to Blair. So, I mean, you can already see that the alternative is being prepared and groomed.

Panos, thank you for that super chat. Thank you so much. Nino, NNNPC says Trump is the best president we have ever had. However, it seems that every one step forward, he ends up going two steps back. Example, Yemen strikes. Well, I'm going to put it differently. I'm going to be a little bit more optimistic. I would say he takes two steps forward and then events push him one and three-quarter steps back. We have a bad situation in the Middle East and nobody should say that it's anything other than that. But we do have an ongoing de-escalation of tensions with Russia. And that is a very, very big thing. And we must not overlook that either. Josh Wood says you previously continued to maintain that the post-war Russia-Ukraine border would be west of the Denebri. Do you think the entire

major cities of the Denebri and Kiev will be part of Russia? Thank you. Well, Zaporosier, of course, is within the region of Zadaparagia, which the Russians say is theirs. I think it depends an awful lot on how the diplomacy works out and what happens in the war, because the war is going to continue. We don't have a ceasefire. I think that's an important point to understand, and the Russians are advancing. I mean, they broke us through in Zaporosia region. They've established a big grouping in the north in Kharkiv.

We could see significant movement. in the front lines over the next couple of days or weeks. So, you know, I'm not going to say exactly where the contact line will be when eventually we do get a cessation of hostilities. But this is my prediction for not the very long term. I think sooner or later, in some form or rather, many of these places, Nehpropos, Zaporoz, Odessa, Kharkov, Poltava, Nikolayev. They're going to return to Russia.

I don't know how it's going to happen. I hope it happens peacefully, but I think that's where things are going to end. Stephen G. says, I suspect that after all this, the EU will push ahead with the EU army. That is the main driver behind their hostility. They need a threat to make it acceptable. Absolutely. And Eurobonds and all of that. They're going to press on. They're going to escalate this. They're going to be saying to each other, Trump, America's abandoning us.

Now, of course, they're going to be doing all of this, trying to maintain the hysteria, even as US-Russia relations are slowly, rapidly improving. So they're going to have to create a war psychosis in Europe amongst the European public, which is under intense economic pressure, despite the fact that relations with Russia are improving. Very difficult thing to do. But, you know, don't underestimate these people. Hysteria is what they trade in,

and they're the absolute masters at making it happen. I read it in The Guardian. Is this true that Stammer is going to be cutting back on, I believe it's at pensions or some social service? In order to give money to Ukraine, he's saying it. Yeah. I'm cutting back on this so I can give it to the Lenzuela. You're absolutely right.

Of course, nobody's making the second connection, but he's giving $3 billion to Ukraine, and he's cutting $6 billion from the disability budget, budget for people who've got disabilities. So, you know, you could have kept back that $3 billion for Ukraine. That would have meant that the reductions of the disability budget would have been less. But, of course, a disability, people, you know, or have amputees and people with multiple sclerosis and all of those things.

But of course, in reality is that the six billion covers all, you know, the three billion that Ukraine, it's not really three billion. It's a lot, a lot more than that. If British aid for Ukraine stopped, these cuts would not be needed. Because there's been so analysis of this in Britain, I don't want to name names because I don't want to embarrass anybody. There's been some analysis of these figures of British aid for Ukraine, and they show that it's costing Britain much more than the official figures admit to. Shameful. Cutting back from the discipline, shameful. Yeah, yeah. Axel O. says, what happens when the next U.S. administration walks all this

back? Well, that is what the Russians are worried about and what they're prepared. I found that worrying about it, what they're expecting, no doubt, or telling themselves is likely to happen. And they're going to prepare for it. So they will take what they can. They will rearm how they can. They will try to get a government in Kiev that they can work with. And when it all turns around, well, they'll be in a better position then. Because as Putin also spoke, said, over the course of this speech that he gave today, they'll also be moving forward with all the bricks, digital platforms and payment systems that were talked about in Kazan. So major political speech today as well.

Ivan says thank you for your great work. Thank you, Ivan. Christina says, since we refer to this conflict as a proxy war between the US and Russia, a peace plan should be developed between these two parties. Absolutely. It was a breakthrough when the Americans finally admitted that it was a proxy war for exactly the reason that you said. because that makes the Americans a direct party in the war, and that's why they are able to negotiate with the Russians.

Darren, Levy says, always great to catch a live stream. Thank you, Darren. Eric Waits says, great work. A lot to plan to leave Ottawa in about six months. We'll be doing a show on Canada, actually, a live stream on Canada soon, so keep an eye out for that. Matthew says, does today make a wider European war any more or less likely?

Well, I don't think it makes it more likely, but don't underestimate the dangers of this situation. I mean, there are a lot of very, very angry and frightened people in Europe today. Tatiana, thank you so much for that super sticker. Tatiana Carr Mitchell, thank you so much. Mark, thank you for the subscription to the Duran community. Tyler Durdin says these negotiations are just a side show. conflict would be decided on the battlefield? Quite possibly.

If the Ukrainians dig in, which they could do, if there's a band-a-right coup in Kiev, which is not impossible, then I think the Americans will walk away and then the Russians will win. It is not impossible that it could end like this. But at least for the moment, the Americans and the Russians are talking and they're trying to find a... a negotiated solution which suits them. And I've discussed in many programs.

I'm not going to do so now, why the Russians might want that solution with the United States. Elsa says, quote from Annalina 360, my grandfather defended Konigsberg, Leningrad, heroically. No comment. No, absolutely, quite true. She did so. Nino says,

Nino says, do you guys plan to have Robert Barnes on anytime soon to discuss the U.S. politics and legal pushback Trump is having with his executive orders and policies. Have that been excellent, I know. We haven't discussed it with each other or with him, but I think we should do it. That's my own view. Absolutely. CA says, what are the similarities and differences between the end of the Korean War and the

current conflict in Ukraine? I think there are lots of similarities, but there are also many differences. The similarities are that the United States decided that it had to end the Korean War. where the military balance, by the way, was starting to shift against it. It also found that it had great difficulties getting its South Korean proxy, Singh-Mun-Ree, who was an awful, horrible corrupt dictator, by the way, I'm just saying, to work with them. Just like Zelensky today, he did everything he possibly could to obstruct and make him possible the negotiations. But there are also important differences,

one of which is, first of all, the United States was directly involved in that war. American troops were there. Secondly, the United States was far more powerful relative to its opponents than it is today. I mean, it had well established a very big lead in nuclear weapons. It had far more economic and military power. And that was why it was able to pressure its opponents to make, to accept a compromise, which basically left career divided. Will Zelensky attack Transnistria?

It's not impossible. Don't discount it. It's quite likely he will do it. At this moment in time, his head is exploding and he's trying to come up with every conceivable plan and idea that he can to try to derail this process. That was by lateral. Very dangerous. Very dangerous. That word bilateral. is going to shock him. Yeah, things can get very dangerous over the next couple of months. Fuzzy Ball says, won't history views Zelensky as an awful leader?

Yes, I think that's the one absolute certainty. We can take from this whole conflict. William says Stammer is cutting disability payments in the UK to create even more disabilities in the Ukraine. Not a nice way to put it, but it's true. Absolutely true. Yeah, well said. Fuzzy Ball says, does Satan Stammer want to return the UK to the EU? Yes.

We've discussed this in another program where we discussed his motivations. And taking Britain back into the EU is undoubtedly a major part of all of this. Sparky says British officials hate President Trump because he's so American. Russian officials like President Trump because he's so American. kid. That is an extremely good point. Very good, very good point indeed. Very good, very good points, Sparky. Mark Hughes, thank you for that super chat. Polly says, thank you the Duran. The first chemical companies are leaving Rotterdam due to high energy costs and EU green ruling. So how are they going to make weapons?

Well, good question. I mean, it answers itself, doesn't it? Well, you know, you must get Ursula. Come on. with the plan she could conjure them up out of thin air she's no doubt got the genius to do that yeah she was a very successful defense minister for germany wasn't she absolutely yeah she was a disaster anyway thank you for that polly vilma s says why does it feel like the u.s is simply using russia to reign in iran well i don't think that's how it's going to play out because to repeat again the Russians made no concessions to the Americans at all. They did discuss the situation in the Middle East. There's a section. There's a section in the readout that shows that they did.

And by the way, that also again refers to work to prevent nuclear proliferation, joint work, to prevent nuclear proliferation. But I don't think the Russians are going to compromise on the Iran. I just think they feel under any pressure to compromise, period. They're winning the war. Their economy has withstood the sanctions shock. Why should they compromise? They do want a better relationship with the United States in their own interests and for their own security. But they're not about to cut off their allies in order to do that. Sparky says Tulsi did indeed go to India and get back and got back a couple of days ago.

But I don't know how her schedule lined. up with the Yemen bombing. Well, there you go. And a couple of more. JJHW says the EU still has wood so they can make plenty of broomsticks. Well, there you go. I mean, I forgot all about that. That's a very good point, actually. We mustn't underestimate. That's right. All right. And I think that's everything, Alexander. Just want to wrap everything, wrap everything up while I just give a final check? I mean, this is being the single most important conversation that's happened between American and Russian presidents

for many, many years now. We are now definitely on the route towards a Russian-American rapprochement. The previous call was important because it broke through the logjam. But this is giving us now an actual way forward. The setting up of expert groups, the agreement that this conflict must be settled and that it must be settled through bilateral discussions between the America and the United States.

That, America and Russia, sorry, that is a breakthrough. The US military industrial complex will make plenty of weapons for the EU. Your thoughts? They have to buy them, though. They have to buy them, exactly, yeah. They will make a lot of money, whatever happens. Yeah, exactly. All right.

Sparky, one more. Russia should locate a naval base on the Strait of Hormus in order to secure Indian Ocean access for bricks. Well, it may one day happen. I don't think it's going to happen tomorrow. I think at the moment, their focus is going to be sorting out Ukraine. Ameriborne says, will Russia invade Odessa area to free Transnistria? Well, if there is no peace, if the Ukrainians dig in, then it's absolutely likely to happen. But maybe there will be a peace. CIA Torture Camp says Mahoud Khalil's situation is provoking more controversy, although it is less severe than what happened to Maria Putin. It is indeed.

That's a big topic. Maybe one to discuss with Robert Barnes, by the way. Yeah, that would be good to do. discuss with Robert. Elza says, Western politicians try to look like serious leaders, but when they sit next to Zelensky, everyone sees them as clowns. Do they realize that? No, they don't. They think they're sitting next to Churchill or Napoleon or whatever. And they think that they are themselves Churchill and Napoleon, which is even worse. Exactly. They are absolutely in their own bubble, believe me. Okay, that is everything. No, wait, one more.

Joseph Davidson says, hi, big fan of the show. Reflective question for Alex, what's the big thing you have been worried, you have been wrong about across the duration of this war? Me? Is that a question to me? Yeah, I mean, I'll tell you straight away. I mean, I complete, I

thought when the war began. Remember, I keep to say this again, I'm not a military person. I assumed that all of those claims about the Ukrainian army being in a state of, you know, a decayed force would not be, were true. So I

did not expect the Ukrainian army to fight as toughly as it did. And I was absolutely wrong about that. And I said this many times. And the support that they got from the entire collective West, the money, the weapons, everything. That I never anticipated. I mean, I didn't understand that. I did anybody outside understood them the extent of the West's commitment to project Ukraine. and that commitment, which is obviously there long before. But as I said, if you want me to say a mistake, as I said, I greatly underestimated how the extent to which the Ukrainian army had been built in. Matt Hubert says Putin has all the high picture cards, global power now balances in Russia's hand of plain, military, industrially and economically. Yes, I think that's a very good way of describing it. He does.

AZ Barry says I'm so looking forward to the U.S. Russia hockey match. So am I. It's actually a big deal. It's actually a big deal if you're going to have a match. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, that is everything.

Thank you to everybody for joining us on this live stream. Everyone watching on Odyssey, on Rock Finn, Rumble and locals, our amazing locals, community and YouTube. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you to our moderators for this second live stream, Peter, Peter in the house. Thank you, Peter for moderating this stream. And I think it was just Peter.

I don't know, Ante Jordan. Thank you, Peter, Ante Jordan. And thank you for all the questions, all the comments. Alexander, we got your video. which is coming up, but I believe once again, you recorded that video before the readout was released, long before the readout was released.

But everything that you say in the video turned out pretty much in the readout. Absolutely, because we both work very hard and it gives us that feel of events. Before the conversation itself took place, but it takes time for videos to be processed and to come through. And I said at the start of the video that by the time you watched it, you didn't know the results of the call.

Now we've had the privilege of doing this program today, to you, our community. And it has been wonderful as always. Okay, so that'll be up in about 30 minutes. So I'm looking forward to seeing that one. All right. Take care, everybody. We will see you again soon.