Merz ready to talk to Putin as Zelensky talks to Witkoff. They nearly pulled Trump back to war

Topic 2081 Trump reportedly told Netanyahu he would be "on his own" as Israel and Iran came within hours of a full-scale restart of hostilities, and Alex Christoforou of The Duran breaks down exactly how the Trump administration pulled both sides back from the edge while Germany's Merz signals Europe is now ready to take the diplomatic baton and open direct talks with Putin on Ukraine. From the E3 bait and switch that may have ended serious negotiations, to Zelensky's meeting with Witkoff and Kushner, the Poland-Ukraine historical row threatening the coalition, the EU shadow fleet seizure plan, and the quiet collapse of Europe's joint fighter jet program, this is the full picture of a diplomatic and military landscape shifting fast. Are the Europeans about to repeat every mistake the Americans made, only with fewer resources and less leverage? PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: ╔═╦╗╔╦╗╔═╦═╦╦╦╦╗╔═╗ ║╚╣║║║╚╣╚╣╔╣╔╣║╚╣═╣ ╠╗║╚╝║║╠╗║╚╣║║║║║═╣ ╚═╩══╩═╩═╩═╩╝╚╩═╩═╝ BUY ME A COFFEE: https://buymeacoffee.com/alexchristof... BTC: bc1q7ff0r8mnt04a4cj3krakzn4fmar28pv43ds2xe ETH: 0x96ee7fedae52f3a263bb499300ab0f641faef496 LTC: ltc1qs333rf24gwh6tnusl60at7m77way0q4699vule XRP: rH6WnYnLP3MwKqJMapoofyxCeNbMEK3pp6 THE DURAN:    / @theduran   ALEXANDER:    / alexandermercourisreal   SUBSTACK: https://theduran.substack.com/ X: https://x.com/AXChristoforou LOCALS: https://theduran.locals.com (1 Month Free Trial) RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/theduran https://rumble.com/c/AlexChristoforou https://rumble.com/c/AlexanderMercouris SPOTIFY: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/... APPLE PODCASTS: https://apple.co/2H9Hk0a THE DURAN SHOP: https://theduranshop.com SUBSCRIBE STAR: https://subscribestar.com/theduran PATREON:   / theduran   Amazing music contribution from Peter Brown. Follow Peter's music:   / peterboy100   00:00:00 Introduction: reporting from Athens, Greece 00:00:58 Iran and Israel near restart: how Trump pulled them back 00:02:46 Axios: Israel planned massive strike against Iran 00:03:38 Trump warns Netanyahu: you will be on your own 00:04:53 Iran calls Trump White House to back off 00:07:29 Merz signals Germany ready to take lead in Russia talks 00:08:50 E3 five conditions: ceasefire, NATO, reparations 00:09:25 Zelensky speaks with Witkoff and Kushner in London 00:11:12 Europe takes over from US: the bait and switch explained 00:15:01 Zelensky claims Russia losing momentum: ISW contradicts him 00:16:44 Konstantinovka and Lyman: Russian advances confirmed 00:19:22 Protests in Germany as Merz approval craters to 20% 00:21:24 EU moves to seize Russian shadow fleet tankers 00:24:14 Poland and Ukraine row 00:28:43 Sam Bankman-Freed requests pardon from Trump 00:31:31 World Cup controversy 00:33:49 Germany and France cancel joint fighter jet program FCAS 00:39:05 Clown world: Zelensky meets King Charles at Windsor Castle 00:42:27 UK Independent claims Putin looks puffy