By Evereth Woodruff 
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Stage set for Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine, sans Zelensky
James Davis reports that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s Moscow visit has paved the way for a Russia-US summit. Peace in Ukraine will dominate discussions, amid leaked proposals suggesting a ceasefire, territorial swaps, phased sanctions relief, and arms control talks.
‘No Reform, no growth, no money’: Berlin’s fiscal paralysis deepens
Diego Faßnacht observes that Germany faces a €172 billion fiscal gap through 2029, with industrial output at its lowest since 2020. Investment is fleeing, and public willingness to support rising military spending is weak, underscoring political stability risks.
Trump’s financial ‘shakedown’ undermines US-Japan alliance
Scott Foster reports that President Donald Trump’s flippant description of Japan’s $550 billion US investment pledge as a “signing bonus” and conflicting US statements over tariff terms have deepened mistrust in Tokyo, giving rise to rare public dissatisfaction with the US relationship.