Ukraine War BREAKING NEWS: Trump/Hegseth Sell Ukraine Down the River. What a DISGRACE
Table of Contents 📖
"Ukraine is about to get hammered by the USA."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:14⏩
Jonathan expresses his anger at how Ukraine has been "sold down the river" by the Trump administration, prompting this breaking news update. He is so angry that he had this outburst while sitting in his car at his son's football practice.
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Mark Fogel Prisoner Exchange
🎦 00:14-00:45⏩
Jonathan discusses the prisoner exchange involving Mark Fogel, who was imprisoned in Russia, and a cybercriminal. He notes there are questions surrounding the exchange, but will elaborate later.
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Tulsi Gabbard as DNI
🎦 00:45-01:06⏩
Jonathan expresses concern over Tulsi Gabbard's appointment as Director of National Intelligence, believing her to be compromised by both Syria and Russia.
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Trump, Hegseth & a Ukraine Peace Plan Without Ukraine
🎦 01:06-03:42⏩
Jonathan is outraged by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth discussing a Ukraine peace plan without Ukrainian involvement. He criticizes Trump for speaking with Putin about Ukraine's future before contacting Zelensky. Jonathan fears this could cause a rift between Europe and the US, even impacting NATO. He believes Zelensky will be angry and in a difficult position because of this. He argues that Hegseth and Trump are undermining Ukraine by prematurely conceding leverage. Jonathan agrees with analysts like Michael McFaul, who share his concerns about announcing concessions before negotiations begin. Jonathan is angered by a viewer comment suggesting Americans don't care about this betrayal, highlighting the significant impact it has on many. He connects the situation to Minsk 3.0, where Ukraine was pressured into an unfavourable deal.
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Trump's Truth Social Statement
🎦 03:42-06:44⏩
Jonathan analyses Trump's Truth Social statement about his phone call with Putin. He highlights elements he finds problematic:
- Trump claims he and Putin "agreed to work together very closely" on Ukraine, questioning where Ukraine's agreement factors into this.
- Trump emphasizes their shared history, pointing out that Trump has revised the number of Russian World War II casualties downwards.
- Trump states they both want to stop the deaths in the "war with Russia slash Ukraine," which Jonathan sees as a deliberate avoidance of assigning blame to Russia.
- Trump announces the immediate start of negotiations between the US and Russia on Ukraine's future, comparing it to his stance on Gaza, where he seemingly believes he has the authority to displace millions.
- Trump plans to inform Zelensky after these decisions have been made, which Jonathan finds disrespectful and indicative of Trump's self-proclaimed "king of the world" attitude.
Jonathan is also troubled by Trump's choice of negotiators: Marco Rubio, John Ratcliffe, Michael Walls, and Steve Witkoff. He concludes by expressing his anger and disgust at both Trump and Hegseth for selling Ukraine down the river.
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International Reactions & Analysis
🎦 06:44-10:16⏩
Jonathan discusses various reactions and analyses of the situation:
- He highlights UK Defence Minister John Healey's announcement of $180 million in military aid to Ukraine, contrasting it with the US's actions.
- He critiques Hegseth's statement that Ukraine must acknowledge its inability to reclaim all lost territory, arguing that it undermines Ukraine's negotiating position.
- Jonathan criticizes Hegseth's proposal that peace requires robust security guarantees but rules out NATO membership for Ukraine, calling it giving away annexed areas and withholding aid.
- He cites Tim White's description of Hegseth's actions as shifting the goalposts and selling out a democratic ally.
- Jonathan agrees with Edward Hunter Christie's assessment that Trump and his administration are rushing into a dirty deal with Putin, disregarding Ukraine and Europe, potentially dishonouring America.
- He highlights Philip O'Brien's observation that this is the same detrimental plan for Ukraine that Trump's team has pushed before, giving Putin concessions upfront and offering Ukraine no concrete guarantees.
Jonathan expresses his frustration and anger, emphasizing the exploitation of Ukraine for personal gain by Trump and Hegseth. He believes their actions demonstrate a disregard for Ukraine's plight, prioritizing an end to the war over a just outcome. He concludes by arguing that this desire for a quick resolution stems from a desire to appear as a peacemaker while sacrificing Ukraine's interests.
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More Reactions & Analysis
🎦 10:16-14:09⏩
Jonathan continues highlighting responses to the developing situation:
- He reads Tim White's tweet expressing his anger and disappointment at the US's betrayal, referring to Trump as an "unpatriotic, divisive felon."
- He cites Edward Hunter Christie's observation that Trump and his team are pushing for a deal with Putin over the heads of Ukraine and Europe, questioning whether America will dishonour itself and stating the risk is rising.
- He references Philip O'Brien's article, which labels Hegseth's plan as bad and possibly worse than previous proposals, highlighting the lack of concrete security guarantees for Ukraine and the potential absence of future US aid.
- He quotes O'Brien's statement that the US government's formal position now seems to be handing over the sovereign territory of a democratic ally to a dictatorship.
- Jonathan agrees with O'Brien's assessment that Putin and Trump are aligning, with the latter potentially hammering Ukraine.
- He reads Philip O'Brien's tweet criticizing European leaders for being stunned by Trump's actions, arguing it was entirely predictable. O'Brien highlights the disdain with which Trump treats Europe, excluding them from the peace talks.
Jonathan emphasizes the speed at which these developments are unfolding and questions the sidelining of Keith Kellogg, considered one of the best hopes for Ukraine. He concludes by sharing Gary Kasparov's statement that US policy under Trump equates to surrendering to Russian aggression, selling out both Ukraine and US interests for nothing, without even a typical Trumpian quid pro quo.
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Analysis of US Strategy (or lack of!)
🎦 14:09-17:33⏩
Jonathan analyses the flawed US strategy:
- He agrees with Gary Kasparov that concessions only embolden dictators like Putin and questions what the US gains from such gifts.
- He cites Erland from Tochny's statement that the US is no longer a trustworthy ally to Europe, highlighting Tulsi Gabbard's approval as DNI and Hegseth's capitulation to Russia as proof.
- Jonathan reiterates that stating negotiating points as facts, like Hegseth did regarding Ukraine's 2014 borders, is a catastrophic mistake as it eliminates leverage.
The Alexander Vinnick - Mark Fogel Prisoner Swap
🎦 17:33-19:56⏩
Jonathan circles back to the prisoner exchange of Alexander Vinnick, a Russian cybercriminal, for Mark Fogel. While relieved Fogel is free, he's concerned about the implications for Ukraine negotiations. He contrasts the lack of public outcry compared to the Brittany Griner situation and suggests the potential concessions regarding Ukrainian territory and NATO membership are far more consequential than the release of a cybercriminal. He plays a clip of Trump claiming the release could be a significant step towards ending the war, emphasizing the lack of transparency regarding backroom dealings and questioning the "great progress" Trump claims to have made on the war. Jonathan points out the absence of any blame towards Russia in Trump's statement.
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Expert Analysis of the Situation
🎦 19:56-21:24⏩
Jonathan cites an unnamed expert who labels Hegseth's comments about Ukraine's borders and NATO membership as "catastrophic mistakes," emphasizing that concessions should not be made before negotiations. The expert criticizes the US for dictating terms to Ukraine and for excluding them from the negotiating table, drawing a parallel with negotiating with Russia where concessions are met with further demands. Jonathan strongly agrees with the expert's assessment.
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Further Reactions & Analysis
🎦 21:24-23:47⏩
Jonathan continues exploring reactions:
- He highlights Michael McFaul's statement that Hegseth's pronouncements hand Putin two victories (Ukrainian land and blocking NATO membership) without any concessions in return.
- He notes the positive reaction from Russia, with company stocks soaring and Dmitry Peskov reporting Putin's invitation to Trump to visit Moscow.
- Jonathan expresses concern that a presidential visit would normalize ties with Russia, benefiting Putin while harming everyone else.
- He reads Erland's tweet suggesting the US operates on a pattern of false promises and backstabbing allies, leaving destruction in its wake. Erland advocates for a stronger, nuclear-capable Europe and increased aid to Ukraine.
- Jonathan agrees with this sentiment, anticipating a heated discussion with Erland in their upcoming conversation.
- He shares Andrew Perpetua's view that Ukraine can defeat Russia independently as long as the US refrains from detrimental actions like lifting sanctions.
- Jonathan fears that the US could leverage sanctions to pressure Ukraine into accepting unfavourable terms. He believes lifting sanctions would be more damaging than withholding military aid, expressing deep concern about this possibility.
- He highlights Anton Koreshenko's report about the US presenting Ukraine with a draft agreement on critical minerals, which Zelensky will review. Jonathan interprets this as the US dictating terms, exploiting Ukraine's resources, and limiting their options.
Zelensky's Reaction
🎦 23:47-26:11⏩
Jonathan, disgusted by the US's actions, reflects on three years of hoping for unified support for Ukraine. He criticizes the current US administration for its detrimental approach, finding it unacceptable. He details Zelensky's statements following his phone call with Trump, noting Zelensky's focus on peace and cooperation, particularly in technology and security. Jonathan observes Zelensky carefully wording his statements, possibly hinting at disagreement with the US approach. He questions how genuine Zelensky's agreement is when he says, "We're defining steps with the US." Jonathan concludes that he'd like to witness Zelensky's true feelings, suspecting anger and frustration lie beneath the surface.
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Analysis of Zelensky's Position
🎦 26:11-28:50⏩
Jonathan examines Zelensky's statement about building NATO on Ukrainian territory if denied alliance membership, interpreting it as a refusal to give up on their aspirations. He notes Shasha Joshi's observation that this situation represents a decent outcome for Putin, especially if he secures a presidential visit and normalized ties with America. Jonathan agrees, pointing out that Putin is the only clear winner in this scenario. He shares Fabian Hoffmann's assessment:
- Ukraine can sustain a prolonged insurgency, making the war a costly quagmire for Russia, even without US support.
- Europe has the capacity to support Ukraine's victory by maintaining sustained support, making time work against Russia.
Jonathan believes this could be a turning point where Europe chooses to stand firm with Ukraine, rejecting the US's pressure to capitulate. He argues that both Ukraine and Europe might reject the US's dictation, choosing to pursue a just peace on their terms. However, he expresses concern about potential retribution from Trump, given his history of holding grudges. Jonathan believes Trump, already biased towards Russia, might use the US to dismantle the sanctions regime against Russia.
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The Dangers of Trump's Influence
🎦 28:50-30:03⏩
Jonathan fears the situation could deteriorate because of both Putin and Trump. He believes Trump is heavily influenced by a "cabal of Project 2025 people" who are pushing an anti-Ukraine agenda, effectively controlling Trump's decisions. He argues that Trump, in turn, influences individuals like Hegseth, Rubio, and Walls, creating a hierarchy of "puppets all the way down." Jonathan believes that fear of losing their positions prevents these individuals from standing up to Trump and advocating for morally right choices.
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Wrap Up
🎦 30:03-31:00⏩
Jonathan, visibly upset by these developments, encourages viewers to share their thoughts. He emphasizes that he has consistently warned about Trump and his administration's actions, feeling validated but saddened by the current situation. While acknowledging the possibility of the US changing its approach, he believes they have already damaged Ukraine's position. He signs off, expressing hope but also deep concern.
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