The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Furious Zelenskyy Calls Trump’s Bluff Right Into His Face
Date: December 27, 2025

Main Theme

This episode focuses on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s bold peace proposal ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump in Miami. The Meiselas brothers dissect how Zelenskyy’s move exposes both Trump and Vladimir Putin’s real intentions regarding the Ukrainian war, while highlighting the broader geopolitical stakes for Europe, the United States, and the future of democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zelenskyy’s 20-Point Peace Proposal (02:03)

• Proposal Summary
  Zelenskyy offers a surprising deal: He would be willing to allow eastern Ukraine to hold a referendum on joining Russia vs. remaining with Ukraine—under specific conditions:

  • 60-Day Ceasefire: Russia must agree to a full 60 days of peace as a show of good faith and to prepare for the vote.
  • Free & Fair Referendum: The vote in eastern Ukraine must be overseen by international partners, ensuring it’s truly open and democratic.
  • Security Guarantees: Should the referendum lead to any territorial changes, the United States and its European allies must provide NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine—where an attack on Ukraine would be seen as an attack on all.
  • Ben Meiselas sums it up:

    “It’s a brilliant strategy, because why wouldn’t you agree to that unless you have bad faith intentions?” (03:15)

• Exposing Putin and Trump:
  The plan puts pressure on Russia, which is unlikely to agree to a ceasefire, and calls Trump’s bluff by offering more than what he’s demanded publicly.

2. European Coordination & Zelenskyy's Diplomacy (06:35)

• Unity with European Leaders:
  Zelenskyy has coordinated the proposal with key European figures, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
  • Ben points out:

    “Everyone in Europe must be on the same page… defending our European way of life, the independence of our states and peace in Europe. There must be peace.” (07:45)

  • Zelenskyy frames Ukraine’s struggle as a European—not just Ukrainian—fight.
• EU Commitment vs US/Russia:
  The brothers highlight the contrast between Europe’s unified support for Ukraine and Trump's transactional approach with Russia.

3. Trump’s Response: “Nothing Until I Approve It” (09:10)

• Trump’s Position:
  Ahead of the meeting, Trump tells Politico:

  “Zelensky doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.” (09:32, Trump qtd via Politico)

  • Interpretation:
    Trump positions himself as the final arbiter and appears uninterested in simply accepting Zelenskyy’s offer, casting doubt on his intention to seek genuine peace.
• Criticism from the MeidasTouch Team:
  The hosts underscore how Trump appears more interested in asserting dominance and potentially leveraging Ukraine for a deal with Russia, rather than supporting democracy or peace.

4. Russian Escalation: Missiles After Peace Overtures (10:50)

• Russian Missile Strikes:
  Immediately after Zelenskyy’s overture, Russia launches massive ballistic missile strikes across Ukraine, supporting the thesis that Putin is not seriously considering peace.

  • Ben remarks:

    “What happened right after Zelensky said that? Russia launched a massive ballistic missile strike last night on Kyiv, Kharkiv, and throughout Ukraine.” (11:23)

• Putin’s Maximalist Demands:
  Putin and his officials remain steadfast in demanding total Ukrainian concession of occupied territories, reinforcing that Moscow views Ukraine as an illegitimate state.

5. Trump, Russia, and Questionable Business Interests (12:18)

• Putin Dangles Incentives for Trump:
  The brothers discuss reports of Putin proposing business partnerships with Trump, such as jointly running the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and mining cryptocurrency together.
  • Ben speculates:

    “Putin says, look… we can mine crypto together. You can get extra rich. Don’t you want to control a nuclear power plant, Donald Trump?” (12:45)

  • Critique:
    The Meiselas brothers suggest Trump is motivated by potential personal gain, and his eagerness toward Russia is economically irrational compared to aligning with the wealthier European bloc.

6. The Economic Reality of Aligning with Russia (13:20)

• Russia’s Economic Weakness:
  Ben compares Russia’s economy (~$2.5 trillion) to Canada’s and Italy’s, pointing out that Trump’s fixation with Russia is out of step with economic logic and sustainability.

  • “Canada’s economy’s almost double the size of Russia, for example. Russia’s economy is the size of Italy.” (13:21)

• Trump as ‘Putin Bootlicker’:
  The podcast sharply criticizes Trump for admiring Putin’s authoritarianism and wanting to emulate it in the U.S.

  • “Trump’s a Putin bootlicker. This is what Trump is enamored by, Putin’s authoritarianism. This is what Trump wants to be—an authoritarian like that.” (13:42)

Notable Quotes

• On Zelenskyy’s Proposal:

  “Zelensky has turned the painful question of territorial concessions into a joint challenge for Trump and Putin. And he has deferred responsibility for whatever happens to the Ukrainian people—the better to keep his legacy from being tarnished by a forfeiture of national sovereignty.”
  — Michael Weiss, quoted at (04:22)

• On Trump’s Attitude:

  “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it, so we’ll see what he’s got.”
  — Trump to Politico, (09:32)

• On Russian Intentions:

  “They basically call Ukraine a fake state, an artificial state that belongs to Russia. This is what they’re saying.”
  — Ben Meiselas, (12:08)

Memorable Moments & Analysis

• Zelenskyy’s Invitation to Trump:
  Zelenskyy offers to hold a referendum in eastern Ukraine, but only with major preconditions and security guarantees—putting Trump in a position where refusal exposes bad faith.

• Contrast with Russian Escalation:
  The dramatic juxtaposition of Zelenskyy’s peace move and immediate Russian missile attacks spotlights who wants peace and who doesn’t.

• Zelenskyy Stresses European Solidarity:
  Repeated emphasis on Ukraine being “Europe,” reinforcing the continent’s collective interest.

  • “Ukraine is Europe. Europe is Ukraine. Our European way of life. Not an American way… Europe’s one, the US and Russia are another.” (08:12)

• Ben’s Direct Appeal:
  The episode ends with Ben encouraging listeners to reflect on the deeper motives behind the diplomatic posturing and to support independent media.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00 – 02:03: Ad break and show theme
• 02:03 – 06:35: Zelenskyy’s 20-point peace proposal explained
• 06:35 – 09:10: European coordination and positioning
• 09:10 – 10:50: Trump’s response and role as “arbiter”
• 10:50 – 12:18: Russian missile escalation and analysis of Putin’s intentions
• 12:18 – 13:20: Trump’s business interests, Putin’s incentives, and critique
• 13:20 – 13:53: The economic irrationality of siding with Russia over Europe
• 13:53 – end: Ad break and wrap-up

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of a pivotal moment in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, when Zelenskyy ingeniously reframes the peace debate and corners both Trump and Putin. The brothers highlight Zelenskyy’s diplomatic acumen, contrast Trump’s dubious motivations, and reiterate the importance of defending democracy and unity in Europe. The tone is sharp, insightful, and unapologetically pro-democracy.