Fault Lines Episode 640: Trump, Putin, Xi, and a Deal Without Kyiv?

Today, Les, Jess, John, and Amy dig into the accelerating — and increasingly chaotic — diplomacy surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump announced an energy ceasefire barring strikes on oil infrastructure — then waived sanctions on Russian energy production — only for Russia to launch a massive attack on Ukraine the very next day. Now, reports are surfacing that Putin is floating a trilateral summit with Trump and Xi to determine Ukraine's future — with no Ukrainian officials at the table.

Would a Trump-Putin-Xi summit represent a genuine path to peace or a capitulation dressed up as diplomacy? What does the energy ceasefire's immediate collapse reveal about Moscow's intentions and Washington's leverage? If Ukraine is excluded from talks over its own fate, what leverage does Kyiv have left?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

@lestermunson

@NotTVJessJones

@JohnCLipsey

@amykmitchell

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