Alastair Crooke: Trump’s Bold Gamble

A candid analysis of the shifting geopolitical landscape following a pivotal meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders. The discussion highlights a new framework for resolving the Ukraine conflict, with Russia taking responsibility for driving the outcome while the U.S. steps back from direct involvement. Europe faces a stark reality: no American security backstop, leaving its leaders scrambling. The conversation explores the symbolic power of political figures, the crumbling Western narrative of dominance, and internal crises—from Epstein fallout to immigration and economic decline—that undermine Europe’s stability. A potential peace emerges not from detailed plans, but from a tacit understanding between two leaders who see beyond conventional diplomacy. The old order is fracturing, and a new world is quietly taking shape.