Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at background briefing. I'm Ian Masters,

and today we'll examine a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with the Russian and American delegations arriving in Saudi Arabia today

ahead of a summit between Trump and Putin.

That will bring the Russian leader out from the cold of international isolation,

at the same time hang Ukraine out to dry since Zelensky is not invited to the talks, even though

it is his country's fate that is being negotiated. Joining us is Daniel Treisman, co-director

of the Center for European and Russian Studies, and a professor of political science at the

University of California, Los Angeles. A leading specialist on the politics and economics

of post-communist Russia is the author of a number of books on Russia, including the new

autocracy, information politics and policy in Putin's Russia, and spin dictators, the changing

face of tyranny in the 21st century.

Then we'll look into the meeting today in Paris, presided over by President Macron,

with the leaders of Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the EU,

and NATO.

Joining us to assess what the Europeans can do to help Ukraine, as appears to be selling out European security to Putin is David Andleman, a contributor to CNN, twice winner of the Deadline Club Award, and a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. He is the author of A Shattered Peace, Versailles 1919 and The Price We Pay Today,

and a red line in the sand, diplomacy strategy, and the history of wars that might still happen.

Formerly a correspondent for the New York Times and CBS News in Europe and Asia,

he runs a substack blog, Andleman Unleashed.

Then finally, as Trump tries to bring the Associated Press to heal, we will explore whether the rest of the press can collectively stand up to Trump as he picks them off one by one,

forcing them into submission. Joining us is James Reisen, a professor of journalism at the University of Maryland,

and a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author whose investigative reporting has triggered a series of political firestorms.

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