Daniel Davis Deep Dive Merch: Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/DanielDavisDeepDive?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Please visit Larry on his YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@counter_currents_channel Earlier-year Anchorage meeting between Trump and Putin raised hopes a US-Russia rapprochement could help end the Russia–Ukraine war. Trump publicly predicted fast progress (including a Putin–Zelensky meeting and a quick end to the war), but those promises did not materialize. Instead of improvement, the situation has worsened: momentum from Anchorage was lost and tensions may be increasing toward wider escalation between Russia and NATO/Europe. Russian officials (e.g., Deputy FM Sergey Ryabkov) and commentators say any diplomatic settlement will be on Russia’s terms: permanent control of Crimea, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson; removal of NATO troops/advisors; Ukraine excluded from NATO and its military scaled down to a national police force. The Russians partly blame Europeans for blocking progress but also express frustration with the U.S. (limited consular contacts, seized property still not returned, no working groups or restored travel). The Trump administration’s internal picture is criticized: some DoD/CIA sources reportedly describe a “stalemate” or collapsing Russian economy—claims the speaker calls false and disconnected from what multiple sources in Russia report. The conversation introduces the Tomahawk missile question: talk of supplying/using Tomahawks raises the risk of a new level of crisis because it could involve U.S. systems/assistance and heighten direct U.S. involvement—though some argue Tomahawks could be operated without U.S. personnel. Overall tone: skepticism about U.S. claims of leverage or easy fixes, warning that missed diplomatic windows and misreadings of Russian intent could lead to deeper escalation rather than a negotiated peace.