The Ben Shapiro Show – Episode 2142: "Trump HAMMERS…Ukraine?!"

Release Date: February 20, 2025

In Episode 2142 of The Ben Shapiro Show, host Ben Shapiro delivers a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine, with a particular focus on former President Donald Trump's recent interventions. The episode delves into Trump's negotiations with Russia, his criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the implications of U.S. defense budget cuts, and the Democratic Party's response to these developments. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

1. Trump's Negotiations and Stance on the Ukraine War

Timestamp [00:00]: Ben Shapiro opens the discussion by highlighting President Trump's recent decision to engage aggressively with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s team is currently in Saudi Arabia negotiating with Russian officials to end the Ukraine war, notably excluding Ukraine from the talks—a move causing significant frustration in Kiev.

Shapiro asserts his clear stance on the conflict:

"Russia attacked Ukraine. There is no good reason for Russia to attack Ukraine. Russia's goal in attacking Ukraine was to take over all, all of Ukraine up to and including Kyiv..."

He emphasizes that the conflict, which began in February 2022, has largely reached a stalemate with Russia maintaining control over Donbass and Crimea. Shapiro critiques the Biden administration for not providing sufficient military support to Ukraine, suggesting that stronger U.S. intervention might have altered the war's dynamics.

2. Trump's Economic Proposal to Ukraine

Shapiro discusses Trump's proposal demanding Ukraine repay the U.S. for the substantial military aid provided:

"The proposed contract demands half the country's revenues from natural resources, ports, and infrastructure indefinitely as payback for US military aid since the war began."

He highlights the New York Post's reporting on the proposal, which suggests that Ukraine found the terms excessively burdensome, leading to a cold reception from Zelensky. Shapiro explains that Trump's intention might be to press Ukraine into recognizing a deal favorable to the U.S., despite the likely refusal from Kiev.

3. Trump's Criticism of Zelensky

Shapiro outlines Trump's ongoing personal animus towards Zelensky, referencing past interactions and recent confrontations. He cites Trump's derogatory remarks on Truth Social:

"Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Vladimir Zelensky talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won..."

Shapiro rebuts these claims by clarifying that the U.S. aid to Ukraine is largely a gift without expectation of repayment:

"The United States up through the end of last year had committed somewhere in the arena of $120 billion to Ukraine. About $25 billion of that is basically coming back to the United States in the form of defense expenditures, somewhere around $100 billion that has been given to Ukraine."

He also corrects Trump's assertion that Europe's aid to Ukraine is insufficient, pointing out that European nations have collectively surpassed U.S. contributions.

4. Democratic Criticism and Party Response

The episode transitions to addressing Democratic leaders' backlash against Trump's statements. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizes Trump for undermining Ukraine and aligning with Russian propaganda:

"Rather than speak the truth, rather than acknowledge Vladimir Putin's role in starting this war, President Trump amazingly blamed Ukraine for Putin's invasion."

Shapiro counters by attributing the prolonged conflict to Democratic inaction:

"They had three years to do it and instead they decided that they were going to slow walk aid such that Ukraine couldn't actually take back any of those areas despite heroic defense."

Moreover, Shapiro highlights that Ukrainian opposition leaders are rallying behind Zelensky in response to Trump's attacks, thereby increasing Zelensky's domestic popularity. He quotes Yulia Timoshenko, a former Ukrainian prime minister:

"Ukraine is a sovereign state. Volodymrr Zelenskyy is the president of Ukraine legitimate until another is elected..."

5. Defense Budget Cuts Under Trump Administration

Shapiro addresses the Trump administration's directive to reduce the U.S. defense budget by 8% over the next five years, as reported by the Washington Post:

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has now ordered senior leaders at the Pentagon and throughout the US military to develop plans for cutting 8% from the defense budget in each of the next five years."

He expresses concern over the potential impact of these cuts, especially in light of rising threats from China and the lingering presence of Russian forces in Europe. Shapiro underscores the importance of maintaining robust military spending to deter aggression:

"The Pentagon budget for 2025 is about $850 billion, with broad consensus on Capitol Hill that extensive spending is necessary to deter both China and Russia."

6. Trump's Foreign Policy and Realpolitik

Delving into Trump's broader foreign policy approach, Shapiro suggests that Trump is pursuing "peace through strength" while simultaneously attempting to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict. He critiques the potential disconnect between defense cuts and the need for a strong military presence:

"The United States is actually not spending like a country that is preparing to retain its position of world dominance. We are not."

Shapiro argues that without substantial military investment, the U.S. risks ceding global influence to adversaries:

"America has aggressive enemies, all of which have their own interests in mind. They act on their own. They have their own priorities, they have their own agendas, and those agendas do not align with the agenda of the United States."

7. Future of Ukraine Negotiations and European Involvement

Shapiro speculates on the future trajectory of Ukraine-Russia negotiations, emphasizing Europe's crucial role in enforcing and funding any potential peace agreement. He notes Zelensky's recent withdrawal from a planned Saudi trip, signaling his disapproval of the U.S.-Russia talks:

"Zelensky's announcement came as he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks in Ankara... 'What matters to me is that our partners take time to think about us.'"

The host anticipates that Europe's increased involvement may lead to a more balanced and enforceable settlement, with the U.S. playing a supporting role rather than leading the negotiations.

8. Defense Department Leadership and Policy Directions

Shapiro briefly touches upon the internal debates within the Defense Department regarding leadership appointments. He references Elbridge Colby, a potential nominee whose past affiliations with Democratic circles raise questions about his alignment with Trump's foreign policy objectives.

9. Conclusion: The Path Forward

In wrapping up the episode, Shapiro reiterates the complexities of the Ukraine conflict and the multifaceted approach required to resolve it. He emphasizes the necessity of strong defense measures and strategic economic policies to safeguard U.S. interests globally.

He concludes with a call to action, encouraging listeners to engage with The Daily Wire's content and support the platform's mission of delivering unvarnished news and analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Shapiro [13:10]:

  "Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Vladimir Zelensky talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won..."

• Donald Trump [13:10]:

  "There's even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the Doge savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt."

• Chuck Schumer [24:11]:

  "Rather than speak the truth, rather than acknowledge Vladimir Putin's role in starting this war, President Trump amazingly blamed Ukraine for Putin's invasion."

• Tammy Duckworth [25:39]:

  "He is parroting Vladimir Putin's talking points. It's a complete betrayal of the Ukrainian people, of American leadership and our values."

• Ben Shapiro [43:58]:

  "So, no, actually the meat ax is a good thing and good for Trump and good for Musk for taking the initiative on all of this."

This episode of The Ben Shapiro Show provides an incisive critique of current U.S. foreign policy towards Ukraine, highlighting the interplay between domestic political maneuvers and international diplomacy. Shapiro presents a perspective that underscores the importance of strong military support, strategic economic policies, and the role of European allies in shaping the future of the Ukraine-Russia conflict.