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Given the optimistic tone coming from so many world leaders ahead of Donald Trump’s Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin, one might be forgiven for believing a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine was merely hours away.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Wednesday’s video call with Trump to discuss Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin “a truly exceptionally constructive and good conversation.” From his point of view, Trump “would rate it a 10, very friendly.” Putin told reporters on Thursday that he saw Trump making “quite energetic efforts to stop the fighting, end the crisis, and reach agreements of interest to all parti

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