In short
The episode argues that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejects Trump’s proposed “peace” deal as surrender, citing Russia’s stated intent to keep fighting and U.S. intelligence assessments that Russia won’t make peace. It highlights European and Japanese financial/military support for Ukraine, plus a reported Ukrainian strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker in the Mediterranean.
Guest backgrounds
No guests are identified in the provided transcript.
Key claims
Russia is preparing next year for expanded war; Trump and allies undermine U.S. intelligence; Europe is choosing “money today or blood tomorrow”; Ukraine and partners are acting on intelligence rather than Russian propaganda.
Notable examples
EU decision for $90B (2026-27); Zelensky meeting with Poland’s Donald Tusk; Japan’s $6B defense contribution; Ukraine striking a shadow-fleet tanker in neutral Mediterranean waters.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOZelenskyy Calls Out Trump
2:36 to 4:33
Zelenskyy delivers a strong message to Trump regarding Russia's threats.
“Not today, not next year, not ever, Donald.”
European Support for Ukraine
4:35 to 5:59
Discussion about Europe's financial commitment to Ukraine's defense.
“And by the way, this leaked out as well yesterday, a story that came out in Reuters.”
Zelenskyy's Meeting with Poland
5:59 to 7:18
Zelenskyy emphasizes gratitude for Poland's support amidst the war.
“It will strengthen Ukraine's combat aviation and defense projects, and it will work to help build out more drones and interceptors.”
Japan's Support for Ukraine
10:29 to 11:49
Zelenskyy acknowledges Japan's significant aid for Ukraine's defense.
“President Zelensky also thanks Prime Minister Takeishi of Japan that provided$6 billion that will strengthen Ukrainian defenses against Russian aggression.”
Trump's Misguided Statements
11:59 to 14:00
Analysis of Trump's comments about the Ukraine war and Russia's intentions.
“You have Marco Rubio, secretary of state, says the following.”
The Urgency of Ukraine's Situation
14:00 to 15:43
Discussion on the critical situation in Ukraine and the urgency for action against Russia.
“Well, they're getting close to something, but I hope Ukraine moves quickly.”
Trump's Misleading Claims About Ukraine
15:43 to 17:00
Analyzing Trump's claims about public opinion in Ukraine regarding peace deals.
“And I do wonder about, you know, how long is it going to be till they have an election?”
Transcript
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2:36Ben Meiselas:Ukraine's President Zelensky, European leaders, the Prime Minister of Japan, they're punching back hard right into Donald Trump's face, exposing his weakness and saying, we're not giving in to you and Vladimir Putin and others who are trying to get us to surrender. Not today, not next year, not ever, Donald. Zelensky had a powerful message clearly directed at Trump saying, you want to know what's really going on, Donald? Here's what Zelensky wrote. Today, we again heard signals from Moscow that they are preparing to make next year a year of war. These signals are not only for us. It is crucial that our partners see them and not only see them, but also respond, especially partners in the United States who often say that Russia wants to end the war.
3:29Ben Meiselas:Yet the signals coming from Russia are the exact opposite, Donald. Take the form of official orders to their armies. Clearly being directed at Donald, like, stop buying the Russian propaganda. This Russian mindset must be recognized and acted upon. When Russia is in this mindset, it will also undermine diplomacy, seeking through diplomatic language and pressure over specific points in documents to merely mask its desire to destroy Ukraine and Ukrainians and its desire to legitimize Russia's theft of our land. And then come other countries in Europe, which someone in Russia might one day label their so-called historical lands.
4:16Ben Meiselas:Real protection is needed against this Russian case history of madness. And we will continue working with all our partners to ensure that protection is placed. In other words, no deal, Donald. We're not capitulating. Stop putting forward these plans that you're calling peace deals that are actually plans of surrender. And by the way, this leaked out as well yesterday, a story that came out in Reuters. And I don't think the timing is coincidental. I think you have all of these intelligence agencies in Europe, the UK, Australia, Canada, Ukraine, elsewhere, getting this message out. So U.S. intelligence reports contradict Putin's denials of being a threat to Europe.
5:06Ben Meiselas:Assessment of Russia's intention, as the U.S. intelligence assesses it, is similar to what the British and European security services believe, that Russia has no intention of ever making peace with Ukraine and then wants to take over all of Europe. That's what the United States intelligence services say, while Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and this pathetic regime work against our own intelligence services. So what's actually going down in Europe? Well, the European Council made a very important and bold decision the end of last week to provide Ukraine with financial support of$90 billion for 2026 and 2027.
5:58Ben Meiselas:This is going to help with joint infrastructure projects. It will strengthen Ukraine's combat aviation and defense projects, and it will work to help build out more drones and interceptors. And boy, have those been used with a great degree of accuracy and tenacity. Just this past week, a Russian shadow fleet tanker. They're no longer safe anywhere, Spravdy says. The security service of Ukraine has, for the first time, successfully struck a tanker belonging to Russia's so-called shadow fleet in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Wherever the Russians are, Ukraine knows exactly where that shadow fleet is.
6:47Ben Meiselas:Let me show you what went down. Here, you have President Zelensky. You have him meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and you'll hear Zelensky saying Europe just came through big because that$90 billion commitment is going to be very helpful and needed for Ukraine that knows the next year is a year that Russia wants to amplify its war. And with the United States right now basically being on Putin's side and with Trump going against our own intelligence service. This is exactly what was needed right now. Here's what Zelensky said in the meeting that just took place with Poland's prime minister.
7:28Ben Meiselas:Let's take a look. And I think that Europe showed leadership and this is very important and tough, strong position. Thank you. Thank you that you supported us. That's mean for us that Poland supported us and we heard your voice and your messages without any kind of, you understand, balancing between right or not right decisions. So thank you so much. And I'm using this opportunity and we're thankful to Poland, Polish people for significant support from the very beginning of the beginning of this war. We count it and count on your support and we are thankful for our unity. Now, here's what Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had to say.
8:16Ben Meiselas:And what he said is it's either money today or blood tomorrow. And Europe chooses to defend Ukraine because Ukraine is Europe and Europe is Ukraine. Play this clip. Now we have a simple choice, either money today or blood tomorrow. And I am not talking about Ukraine only. I'm talking about Europe. And this is our decision to make. And only ours. I think all European leaders have to finally rise to this occasion. And this is all what I can say today. I want to tell you about Article because I've actually been upgrading my space with them, and it's been such a great experience. I picked up a storage console and an ottoman, and honestly, they fit perfectly into my home.
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10:29Ben Meiselas:President Zelensky also thanks Prime Minister Takeishi of Japan that provided$6 billion that will strengthen Ukrainian defenses against Russian aggression. We greatly appreciate that Japan takes such a leadership position globally. This is a significant contribution to our resilience. The international order is essential to prevent Russia's twisted war policy from continuing anywhere. Now, President Zelensky chose those words very carefully, international rules-based order. What's happening here as well is that Japan also recognizes, again, as Donald Trump is in his own little Trump suck up to Putin world, Japan is very vulnerable now to China and Taiwan is very vulnerable to China.
11:25Ben Meiselas:As Donald Trump is a Xi Jinping bootlicker, the same way he is a Vladimir Putin. These guys are playing Trump like a fiddle. So Japan also recognizes that right now it's Russia, China. So for Japan, it's Japan, Ukraine, Europe, UK, Australia, Canada. And the US is out there with Donald Trump saying, golden ballroom, golden ballroom, triumphal arch, just do what Putin says. So that's the broader dynamic going on here. You have Marco Rubio, secretary of state, says the following. He goes up. It's not our war. It's a war on another continent. As Jane Keeve writes, Trump regime, nothing more than a tool of Putin's propaganda machine.
12:14Ben Meiselas:Here play this clip. There's a reason why this war hasn't ended. And that is because there's complex factors at play. I know that sounds like a throwaway line, but it's true. What we have tried to do in this entire process, and let's be clear about this. I mean, the United States is engaged in this. It's the president says this, and I'll translate what I think, you know, he's trying to say to you in all of this, and I think he's been pretty clear about it. It's not our war. It's a war in another continent. We have equities. We have engagement in this war, but it's not our war per se, but we have been told by everybody.
12:41I think everybody would agree that there's only one nation on earth. There's only one entity on earth that can actually talk to both sides and figure out whether there's a way to end this war peacefully. And that's the United States.
12:51Ben Meiselas:And speaking of it being nothing more than a Putin propaganda machine, you had Donald Trump saying, look, Ukraine better move quickly on a peace deal with Russia because Putin wants peace. Putin's already agreed. And it's really Zelensky who's holding things up. What delusional world are you living, Donald? President Zelensky and Ukraine have always agreed to an immediate ceasefire. It's Russia who doesn't agree to the sea. It's Russia who invaded first and foremost. Let's not get that twisted. Ukraine didn't invade itself. Russia invaded Ukraine to conquer the land and then go after Europe, the rest of Europe next.
13:31Ben Meiselas:That's number one. Number two, we all know what's going down here, Donald. We all know what's really happening. And let's just take a look at what Donald Trump says is that they're getting close to something. I hope Ukraine moves quickly. Russia is saying that it wants no peace. It wants to conquer all of eastern Ukraine. That's what Russia is saying. Here play this clip. Mr. President, there's a meeting this weekend on Ukraine in Florida. What are you hoping will come out of that meeting? Well, they're getting close to something, but I hope Ukraine moves quickly. I hope Ukraine moves quickly because Russia's there.
14:07And every time they take too much time, then Russia changes their mind. 27 ,000 soldiers were killed last month.
14:16Ben Meiselas:And even you have Putin, you know, giving a speech earlier this week. Putin said, we want all of our historical territories back. Ukraine doesn't belong to you. Our special operation must be completed. If you listen to what Putin, Dmitry, what Yuri Yushikov says, If you listen to what Kirill Dmitriev says, if you listen to what Sergei Lavrov says, listen to these people. They're all saying that they want to take over Ukraine and take over Europe. We just listen to what they're saying. And then, you know, it's just interesting. Like as Donald, the same way Trump's like, I've gotten all this, you know, like I've brought in$23 trillion, you know, like Trump like just makes up fake, like a fake world.
15:03Ben Meiselas:Putin does the same thing. Putin is still saying as of the last 24 to 48 hours that Russia controls Kupiansk, that they control the whole Kupiansk area. Zelensky was just there. We know that Ukraine drone army defeated Russia's offensive. Like Putin is just making up that he's having success on the front when Ukraine has pushed back here. Like that's the reality of it. But still, you have Donald Trump out there saying 82 percent of Ukrainians demand a peace deal that Russia wants. It's just it's 82 percent in the opposite way. 82 percent do not want to give in to Russia. But here's what Donald Trump says.
15:41Ben Meiselas:Let's play this clip. You think it's time for Zelensky to start accepting things. What things are you talking about? I think he has to be realistic. And I do wonder about, you know, how long is it going to be till they have an election? It's a democracy. It's a long time. They haven't had an election in a long time. It's losing a lot of people. And it's possible that the people, if you look at the polls, I will say 82 percent, there was a vote came out. 82 percent of the people are demanding a settlement be made. Ukrainian people. So that's the state of play right now. We'll keep you posted every step of the way here.
16:21Ben Meiselas:But you have Zelensky in Europe. I've showed you before Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany. I've showed you Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who's like, we're going to take back Russian-owned, oligarchical-owned football teams or soccer teams. We're taking that back. Europe is getting, Europe knows what's happening here. Like Ukraine gets what's happening. They're not getting played by Trump. And Europe and Ukraine have a plan. And Trump looks weaker than ever. And, you know, that's where we are after this year. Trump said he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. This is the new world order right now.
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From the publisher
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Ukraine President Zelenskyy standing up to Donald Trump and showing him that Ukraine and Europe will never submit to him and Putin.
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