All right, Alexander, let's talk about the recent statements from Russian President Vladimir Putin

as he was at the Arctic summit, and then he went to inspect a nuclear submarine, a submarine

with hypersonic missiles, by the way.

And he made some very interesting statements, perhaps the most

interesting statements to date from the Russian president. He talked about the government

in Kiev, the illegitimate government of Kiev. He talked about some sort of

UN governance of Ukraine because the current government is illegitimate. So Putin mentioned

that perhaps the UN can step in as a solution to govern Ukraine until elections take place.

And then he said that the Russian military is in a position to finish off the Ukraine military.

He did acknowledge that the operation has been going slowly or slower than people had expected,

but he does appear confident that the Russian military is now moving towards a victory, a decisive victory.

And he did use the words, finish off.

That is the quote from the Russian president. And it seemed to me as if this was not only a glimpse into perhaps how Putin is seeing the final outcome in Ukraine, but it also could serve as a warning, a final warning,

to Ukraine, perhaps to the Trump administration, to get a deal in place along the June

2024-Isdumpel-plus lines, or else Russia is going to advance towards a military solution,

a military victory, and then things will change.

And that's where the UN comes in.

Anyway, your thoughts on the statements from the Russian president.

Absolutely.

And I'm going to point out something else.

He said virtually nothing about the ongoing diplomacy, the negotiations with the United States.

I don't think he believes they're going to go anywhere.

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