Putin's Advice to Trump; Ratcliffe's Ukraine Power Grab

Alex Christoforou and Alexander Mercouris discuss what they describe as Ukraine's worsening military, financial, and diplomatic position. Mercouris attributes a collapsing front and tax base to Russian strikes, treats a reported Lyman counterattack as unconfirmed public-relations warfare, and says US approaches to Moscow through Ratcliffe's pressure and Witkoff and Kushner's inducements both failed. He reports that Putin told Trump the war ends if Washington stops helping Ukraine. These statements remain the hosts' claims, not independently verified facts.

1. Mercouris says Ukraine's military situation is deteriorating fast and that Kiev has no air defense to speak of.

2. The hosts treat The Spectator headline 'Ukraine is losing the war' as elite British admission of the same assessment they have been making.

3. Mercouris says Putin advised Trump that ending the war is simple if the United States stops helping Ukraine.

• Q

  How is Ratcliffe going to negotiate if he cannot get a meeting with Putin or Lavrov?

  Alex Christoforou asked14:22
  A

  Alexander Mercouris answered

  Mercouris says the Americans first sent Ratcliffe with threats, which failed, then Witkoff and Kushner with economic inducements, which also failed; Putin refused both.