Another Trump Attempt to Stop Russia's War in Ukraine

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Another Trump Attempt to Stop Russia's War in Ukraine
Date: December 29, 2025
Host: FOX News Podcasts Team (Dave Anthony, Ainsley Earhardt)

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Episode Overview

This episode provides rapid updates on major international developments, with a primary focus on former President Donald Trump’s recent involvement in Ukraine peace negotiations. Further segments spotlight the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, heightened tensions in Taiwan, a judicial update on the January 5th pipe bomb case, the Utah Valley Charlie Kirk case, severe winter weather across the northern U.S., and a quick sports and market rundown.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Brokered Ukraine Peace Plan

• Main Theme: Former President Trump hosts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a possible U.S.-brokered peace deal with Russia.

• Key Developments:

  • Progress was made in negotiations, but territorial disputes—especially over the Donbas region—remain a sticking point.
  • Zelensky emphasizes that any territorial concessions would be unacceptable to the Ukrainian public.
  • A snippet from Zelensky’s interview with Fox’s Brett Baer reiterates the deep opposition among Ukrainians to cede land.

  Memorable Quotes:

  • Dave Anthony (00:25):
    “There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues. But I think we're doing very well. We've made a lot of progress today. One of those thorny issues: who gets what land and being fought over.”
  • Volodymyr Zelensky [paraphrased by Dave Anthony] (00:40):
    “Ukrainians oppose giving up the Donbas region to Russia. It will be big risks for Ukraine, not acceptable by Ukrainians, but they will just personally, and referendum will not be positive.”

• Context: Russian President Putin refuses to back down, signaling continued military operations, targeting Zaporizhzhia.

2. Diplomatic Moves in the Middle East

• Main Theme: Trump to meet Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding Gaza and Iran.
• Key Developments:

  • Netanyahu set to brief Trump on Iran’s missile program and the Gaza peace process.

  • Iran declares itself in "full fledged war" with the U.S., Israel, and Europe.

    Quote:

    • Ainsley Earhardt (01:16):
      “Netanyahu will also give Trump an update on Iran and its ballistic missile program. And it all comes as Iran's president is saying they're in a full fledged war with the US Israel and Europe saying they don't want his country to be stable.”

3. China–Taiwan Tensions

• Main Theme: China increases military activity near Taiwan.
• Key Developments:

  • China stages large-scale military drills in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

  • Japan’s prime minister signals possible military involvement in the event of Chinese aggression.

    Quote:

    • Dave Anthony (01:33):
      “China is flexing its muscle near Taiwan, doing military drills... The move comes in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.”
    • “Japan's prime minister says his military could get involved if China were to take forcible action against Taiwan.”

4. Domestic Security and Legal Updates

Pipe Bomb Investigation (Capitol Riot Eve)

• Theme: Updates on the 2021 pipe bomb case.
• News:

  • Brian Cole Jr. confessed to planting inactive bombs at both Democratic and Republican HQs on January 5, 2021.

    Quote:

    • Dave Anthony (02:31):
      “Justice Department documents show the Virginia man accused of planting the pipe bombs... confessed... They were found January 5, 2021, the night before the infamous Capitol riot.”

The Charlie Kirk Utah Shooting Case

• Theme: Ongoing legal proceedings.
• Details:

  • Legal wrangling over gag orders and requests for prosecutor removal, citing conflict of interest.

  • The judge will consider releasing closed-door hearing transcripts to the public.

    Quote:

    • Ainsley Earhardt (02:58):
      “Judge Tony Graf is expected to reconsider the gag order in this case after prosecutors argued against what they called an unlawful prior restraint on speech.”

5. Severe Winter Weather

• Theme: Blizzard-like conditions across the northern U.S.
• Details:

  • States impacted: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine.

  • 440 flights canceled, >1,500 delayed; conditions causing travel hazards.

  • 50–60 mph winds creating low visibility, even scaling back doesn’t end the risks.

    Quote:

    • Adam Klotz, FOX meteorologist (03:39):
      “At times, this has been up to a blizzard that's beginning to scale back... But there's still some blizzard warnings... Winds have been 50, 60 miles an hour. So any snow that's already on the ground [is] still blowing around, making visibility very low..."

6. Brief Updates: Markets & NFL

• Stocks: Futures falling into year's end.

• NFL: San Francisco 49ers win sixth straight; “showdown” set with Seattle for the division.

• Seattle Seahawks: Also win sixth consecutive game.

  Quote:

  • Dave Anthony (04:11):
    “On Sunday Night Football, San Francisco beat Chicago 42–38, the 49ers sixth straight win, setting up a showdown with Seattle... The Seahawks also won a sixth game in a row...”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That's the hard part. Yeah. Is the territory. That's the hard part.” – Brett Baer and Volodymyr Zelensky (00:35)
• “It will be big risks for Ukraine not acceptable by Ukrainians... and referendum will not be positive.” – Zelensky (00:45)
• “Japan's prime minister says his country's military could get involved if China were to take forcible action against Taiwan.” – Ryan Schmelz (01:56)
• “There are about 440 flights canceled, more than 1,500 delayed. After over 21,000 weekend delays.” – Adam Klotz (03:53)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:03–01:16 — Ukraine Peace Talks, Trump–Zelensky Meeting, Russia’s Position
• 01:16–01:33 — Netanyahu-Trump Talks, Gaza, Iran’s Statements
• 01:33–02:00 — China–Taiwan Tensions, Japan’s Response
• 02:31–02:58 — Pipe Bomb Investigation Updates, Capitol Riot Context
• 02:58–03:39 — Charlie Kirk Utah Shooting Case Legal Updates
• 03:39–04:11 — Winter Storm, Air Travel Impacts
• 04:11–04:28 — Stock Market and NFL Updates

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Conclusion

This episode distills fast-moving global and domestic news, foregrounding diplomatic attempts at peace in Ukraine, the complexity of territorial disputes, and the interplay of U.S. foreign policy with developments in Israel, Iran, China, and Taiwan. Domestic stories interlace high-profile legal proceedings and severe weather impacts. The tone remains concise yet pressing, balancing headline clarity with recurrent urgency.

Transcript

[Ainsley Earhardt]

Foreign.

[Dave Anthony]

Attempt to stop Russia's war in Ukraine. I'm Dave Anthony. FOX News. Everybody wants peace, but just peace. That's Ukraine's leader Vladimir Zelensky after meeting with President Trump at his Mar a Lago resort in Florida discussing a US Brokered peace plan that would include security guarantees for Ukraine. I think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues. But I think we're doing very well. We've made a lot of progress today. One of those thorny issues, who gets what land and being fought over. Zelensky talked to Fox's Brett Baer after the sit down. That's the hard part. Yeah. Is the territory. That's the hard part. So how do you get to to yes. Zelensky says Ukrainians oppose giving up the Donbas region to Russia. It will be big risks for Ukraine not acceptable by Ukrainians but they will just personally and referendum will not be positive. You can watch that interview on Fox's Special Report, 6pm Eastern. Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who also had a phone call yesterday with President Trump told generals today, according to Reute it's necessary to continue the war trying to take over the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia where a nuclear power plant is. Today, President Chapel hold talks with another leader on another conflict. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu goes to Mar a Lago.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

They'll reportedly discuss the future of the Gaza peace deal. Netanyahu will also give Trump an update on Iran and its ballistic missile program. And it all comes as Iran's president is saying they're in a full fledged war with the US Israel and Europe saying they don't want his country to be stable.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Madison Scarpino. China is flexing its muscle near Taiwan doing military drills with the army and navy all around the island it considers Chinese territory. The move from China comes in response to US Arms sales to Taiwan in a statement from Japan's prime minister who says his country's military could get involved if China were to take forcible action against Taiwan. That's fox's Ryan Schmelz. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Dave Anthony]

We have an update on the attempt to attack the Democratic and National Republican National Committee headquarters. Justice Department documents show the Virginia man accused of planting the pipe bombs, Brian Cole Jr. Confessed those bombs never went off. They were found January 5, 2021, the night before the infamous Capitol riot. There's another hearing today in the murder case against Tyler Robinson, who's accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk as the conservative leader was addressing students at Utah Valley.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

Judge Tony Graf is expected to reconsider the gag order in this case after prosecutors argued against what they called an unlawful prior restraint on speech. The judge will also consider whether to release transcripts of a closed door hearing from October to the public. Ahead of this hearing, attorneys for accused shooter Tyler Robinson asked for the Utah county attorney's office to be disqualified from the case, citing a conflict of interest with one of the prosecutors. The person's identity is sealed. Robinson's team says the attorney has a personal connection with a witness to the shooting. But prosecutors say this individual would not be called as a witness by the state in a trial. This particular issue is expected to be dealt with at a later hearing. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

A winter storm has been hitting from Iowa to Minnesota, Wisconsin to Michigan, up to Maine. Here's FOX meteorologist Adam Klotz. At times this has been up to a blizzard that's beginning to scale back a little bit. But there's still some blizzard warnings out there. Winds have been 50, 60 miles an hour. So any snow that's already on the ground still blowing around, making visibility very low for folks who are driving. It's also been tough for air travel. There are about 440 flights canceled, more than 1500 delayed. After over 21,000 weekend delays. On Wall street, stock futures are falling before the last three days of trading of the year. On Sunday Night Football, San Francisco beat Chicago 42 38, the 49ers sixth straight win, setting up a showdown with Seattle for the NFC west division title next week. The Seahawks also won a sixth game in a row, beating Carolina 2710. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.