Trump and Putin Squeeze Zelensky and European leaders
Operation Midas, Energoatom, about US$100 million, and Timur Mindich and Volodymyr Zelensky – in some happier times: Picture from “The Conversation” November 13, 2025
November 26, 2025
Introduction
There is a new brutal alliance of the USA under President Trump and the Russian state under Putin’s presidency to truncate Ukraine, and reverse NATO expansionism. On August 15th 2025, we wrote of the ‘deal’ between President Trump and President Putin to force the Ukrainian President Zelensky to a humiliating cease-fire – which was temporarily held in abeyance:
“The Alaska summit may not have yet “delivered” the territory to the Putinite Russian forces. But this process has been slightly slowed to enable a face-lift on the proceedings. Better than Trump and Putin signing it, is that Zelensky and Putin sign it.”
(“After Alaska Summit Trump and Putin will further squeeze Zelensky and the European Union”; MLRG.online August 15, 2025).
We also described the frenzied rush to Washington by European leaders to ever so politely “demand” – but surely that is not the right word, ‘plead’ – of President Trump that the Ukrainian leader Zelensky had to agree willingly to any deal. Trump was willing to wait. But as we pointed out, it was only a matter of time before Zelensky would be under pressure again. We cited the editorial board of the FT as stating that:
“Signing the deal and announcing it – as a deal solely made between Trump and Putin, had now become more than awkward! Largely because of the international attention that European leaders ensured, to such a private deal without Zelensky’s participation. Therefore, the original plan was simply modified. Now pressure will be piled onto Zelensky to just give way.”
Editorial Board; “How Trump can win in Alaska“; Financial Times 12 August 2025.
Zelensky had been fatally undermined by highly plausible allegations of corruption:
“As for Zelensky, his position inside Ukraine was already severely weakened. This was largely because of his hasty attempt to disable two key anti-corruption committees: “Volodymyr Zelenskyy rushed through a law last week eliminating the independence of two anti-corruption bodies, and thousands of Ukrainians took to the streets. The president quickly appeared to understand the scale of his blunder and backtracked; the country’s parliament will vote this week on a law reversing the changes.“
The Editorial Board; “Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unforced error”; FT 30 July 2025
“the law fast-tracked through parliament and signed by the president last Tuesday touched a nerve. It granted his office greater control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), both set up in the wake of the 2014 Maidan protests that toppled pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych. Those demonstrations were not just against Kremlin interference but also a model of kleptocratic governance seen as Russian— in contrast to “European” rule-of-law principles — even if some Ukrainian oligarchs and officials were even more rapacious than their Russian counterparts.
Ukraine’s president justified the move against NABU and SAPO by suggesting they had been penetrated by pro-Russian interests. But he offered no evidence. Many in Ukrainian civil society — which has once again displayed its vibrancy —suspect the law was motivated by the fact that corruption probes have closed in on figures close to the presidency.”
MLRG.online citing FT Editorial Ibid.
Now however, the corruption knife has turned even deeper, rendering Zelensky very exposed:
“Ukraine’s independent anti-corruption agencies have just released the findings of Operation Midas, a 15-month investigation into Energoatom, which is the state-owned operator of all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. With a total capacity of almost 14,000 megawatts, Energoatom is the largest electricity producer in Ukraine.
Anti-corruption investigators allege a large kickback scheme of between 10% and 15% of the value of supplier contracts, amounting to about US$100 million (£76 million). Raids were carried out in 70 locations around the country on November 10. Seven people have been charged and five are in custody.
The mastermind of the corrupt scheme is alleged to be Timur Mindich a businessman and film producer, who hastily fled Ukraine a day before the raids. What makes this very dangerous for Zelensky is that Mindich is the co-owner, with the Ukrainian president, of Kvartal 95 Studio. Kvartal is the media platform on which Zelensky established his pre-presidential fame as a comedian.”
Stefan Wolff and Tetyana Malyarenko; “Ukraine: energy corruption scandal threatens to derail Zelensky’s government and undermine its war effort”: November 13, 2025 The Conversation.
Here we describe the most recent ultimatum to Ukraine; the corruption of the Zelensky Ukrainian government; and the oligarchic factions in Ukraine.
1. The New Ultimatum to President Zelensky of Ukraine
Since 2022, the brutal war in Ukraine has steadily become more bloody. Meanwhile, the background manouevres continue. Under President Trump the USA state has reversed its prior support of the inter-imperialist agency of NATO. We believe that this new USA policy is driven by:
i) Attempts to reduce USA expenditure to “defend” Europe. The USA prefers that Europe increase its own defence expenditure. Meanwhile, the USA is increasing its expenditures on the Arctic, the Pacific and South American arenas.
ii) While the temporary unity of the USA and the Russian state is simply convenient for both partners, it is possible that the USA has another tactical objective. That is an attempt to divide the Russian state from its main international ally the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This is because the ultimate strategic target of the USA is the PRC.
iii) At the same time the USA finds that Europe continues to be at times a potential competitor which needs curbing at this early stage.
For these reasons, the Trump Presidency of the USA and the Putinite Russian state continue to force Ukraine into ceding its territory to Russia. USA and Russian pressure on Zelensky is likely to affect a humiliating Ukrainian defeat to Russia. The so-called “28 points” of the new plan being foisted onto Zelensky pose a stark choice:
“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the country risks having to choose between losing US support or forfeiting its dignity in a harsh peace with Russia, as Washington heaped pressure on Kyiv to sign a deal drawn up with Moscow by Thursday.
Zelenskyy’s comments, made in a television address to the nation on Friday, came the day after the US presented him with a 28-point plan that crossed several of Kyiv’s long-held red lines, and as Ukraine’s European allies depicted the new proposals as a “capitulation” to Moscow’s demands.
“Now Ukraine may find itself facing a very difficult choice — either loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner,” Zelenskyy said, telling Ukrainians that they faced “one of the most difficult moments in our history”. “
Henry Foy, Christopher Miller, Lauren Fedor; “Ukraine faces choice of losing ‘dignity’ or American support, Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns”: FT 22 November 2025
These “redlines” include loss of territory including areas where the Russian army has not been entrenched in this war. If accepted, this all would result in :
“the proposed recognition of the Ukrainian territories of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk as “de facto Russian.”
Henry Foy, Christopher Miller, Lauren Fedor Ibid; FT 22 November 2025
Furthermore, the Ukrainian state is expected to commit not to engage with NATO. Where did this plan – similar to prior ‘plans’ – originate this time?
“Officials in Kyiv were unimpressed. They said the proposal – reportedly drafted by Kirill Dmitriev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff – was a “provocation.”
Luke Harding, Andrew Roth; “Zelenskyy to negotiate with Trump over US and Russia peace deal requiring painful Concessions”; Guardian 20 Nov 2025
Hypocritically, President Trump even adopts an air of concern about wanting to stop the bloodshed:
“The plan, drafted by aides to US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calls for Kyiv to cede swaths of land under its control. It contains further big concessions to Moscow, including banning any Ukrainian membership of Nato.
Trump told Fox News on Friday that Ukraine had “got to give up some land that they have not lost in the war”.
He added: “We are in it for one thing, we want the killing to stop…They lost 25,000 people last month, between the two countries …It’s out of control. It’s a bloodbath. . .
In a sign of the increasing pressure on Kyiv, the American side had “signalled” that vital US intelligence and weapons deliveries could be halted if Zelenskyy did not sign up to the proposal,”
Henry Foy, Christopher Miller, Lauren Fedor Ibid; FT 22 November 2025
As the brutal war continued, in the second week of November the Ukraine was rocked by a re-erupting scandal of corruption hanging on Zelensky. These recent exposures of Zelensky’s corruption – most probably aided by the USA ally Petro Poroshenko – are a new, possibly fatal final opening. The USA and Russia are rushing to exploit this.
2. Golden Toilets and the inner Oligarchic struggles in Ukraine
Zelensky had tried to suppress anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine as they moved to implicate Zelensky’s allies. Forced to retreat by large working-class demonstrations inside Ukraine, the rotting odour could only be stopped for so long.
This nasty smell has been suddenly released along with photos of a golden toilet and bags of cash:
“Law enforcement searches inside opulent Kyiv apartments, one with a golden toilet. . . Pictures of duffel bags filled with cash. Audio recordings of officials discussing money laundering strategies.
These are among the details that have shocked Ukrainians over the past week as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration was engulfed in the biggest corruption scandal since he took office, destabilising Kyiv’s leadership at a critical moment in the war.
The revelations prompted a wave of public anger – “how the president’s friends robbed the country in wartime” read an atypical headline on the news website Ukrainska Pravda —and forced a change of tack.
Zelenskyy finally turned on the suspects in an attempt to protect his presidency. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian president demanded the resignations of justice minister German Galushchenko and energy minister Svitlana Hrynchuk, both of whom were subsequently removed from the national security council.
He also imposed sanctions on Timur Mindich, a friend and former business partner charged in the case. Investigators said Mindich was the “co-organiser” of the alleged scheme, and that some $100 mn of illicit funds passed through his office.”
Fabrice Deprez; “Bags of cash and a gold toilet: the corruption crisis engulfing Zelenskyy’s government”; Financial Times 15 November, 2025
The long-standing rival oligarch Petro Poroshenko has been again prominently mentioned:
“European Solidarity, an opposition party led by former president and longtime Zelenskyy rival Petro Poroshenko, has reiterated its demand that the current government be “replaced by a technocratic “government of unity” to include opposition figures. But it has stopped short of asking for Zelenskyy to stepdown. “We’re still at war,” said Rostyslav Pavlenko, an MP and Poroshenko ally.”
Fabrice Deprez; “Bags of cash Ibid”; FT 15 November, 2025
Of course Zelensky is corrupt. But the problem is that… Porsoshenko is no better than Zelensky. To see this, we must reprise earlier history.
3. The bitter rivalry of Ukranian oligarchs.
We previously detailed events in the Ukraine following the final disintegration of the USSR in 1981. This had set off a fight for grabbing state assets in the Ukraine as well as inside the other parts of the former USSR.
Essentially, all the Ukrainian state capitalists greedily tried to grab all industry and assets – but now as private capitalists, and at rock-bottom prices (See February 2022 “Imperialist Danse Macabre over the Peoples of Ukraine“; at: MLRG.Online ).
At core, the struggle between oligarchs in Ukraine reduced itself to two factions:
One led by former pro-Russian stooge President Leonid Kuchma favoured retaining links with the remnants of the Russian state capitalists. That faction included Viktor Yanukovych who formed the party called ‘Party of Regions’. They were largely based in the Donestsk region.
The other ruthless group of opposing oligarchs favoured being linked to Western imperialism. It’s leaders joined forces:
Viktor Yushchenko, who formed ‘Our Ukraine’; and Yuliia Tymoshenko – or the ‘Gas Princess’ – who took over the Hromada party, or the ‘dissident’ oligarchs’ party, but then formed the ‘Fatherland’ party.
In the 2002 elections for the parliament (Rada), Yanukovich won over Yuschenko but only by using even more blatant frauds than his rival. The Yanukovych camp was heavily funded by Gazprom and Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov. (Wilson ‘The Ukranians Unexpected Nation’; Yale; 2009; p.39; p. 118; 135; 2). The ‘Zoriany’ tapes of the Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) – revealed an extraordinary vote fixing.
After an appeal, the Supreme Court intervened, and a new election was held. Yuschenko won a new vote and appointed Tymoshenko as Prime Minister in 2005. But each wanted primary access to the riches of the state industries, and they fought each other. As they did so, they escalated an anti-East and anti-Russian movement in Donbass, utilising extreme right forces.
Yuschenko rehabilitated the openly fascist 1929 Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (NPA). (Wilson Ibid; ‘The Ukranians Unexpected Nation’; p.131). As well the Ukrainian National Assembly (UNA) and its paramilitary wing the UNA-UNSO were fostered. This organisation was known to the USA embassy (shown in Wikileaks) as ‘a coalition of nationalist forces that venerated Mussolini”. (Chris Kaspar de Ploeg ‘Ukraine in the Crossfire”; Atlanta GA, 2017; p. 23).
While Tymoshenko and Yuschenko battled each other for the riches of the state – the increasingly weaker pro-Russian gangsters led by Yanukovych temporarily managed to return to power in 2010.
Poroshenko was adept at playing both sides. He had already been in the cabinet under Yushchenko after joining his party. But in 2010, he re-emerged as a member of Yanukovych’s ‘Party of Regions’. He remained in the cabinet, even while running a committee on cooperation with the European Union.
Manwhile Tymoshenko joined with the US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland (of “Fuck the EU” fame) (Wilson Ibid p. 131-3; 325-327). Together, they brought down Yankuovych’s government. But this Maidan 2.0 coup was fueled by the USA and the EU.
The scale of USA and EU funding for the ‘Orange Revolution’ was extraordinary. Nuland openly boasted that “the US had invested over $5 billion USD in Ukrainian democracy”. Moreover, both the USA and the EU set up several ‘NGO’s. These poured money into the Orange supporters, led by George Soros (USD 110 million between 2004- 2014; and the EU gave 1.3 billion Euros 2007-2014. (Chris Kaspar de Ploeg ‘Ukraine Crossfire”; Ibid; p.54-58, p. 29).
4. Who, therefore, is Petro Poroshenko?
He is essentially now – once more – the USA’s man in Ukraine. Just as he was in the so-called Orange Maidan coups sponsored by USA and EU imperialism.
In the above circumstances of Soros’s and Nuland’s financial support, in the new 2014 elections, Poroshenko became president:
“On May 25, 2014, Poroshenko coasted to a landslide victory, easily topping his closest challenger…and onetime Orange coalition ally Yuliya Tymoshenko…After ordering a summer offensive (In the areas disputed by Putin – Ed) that drastically reduced the area under rebel control, in September Poroshenko agreed to a cease-fire…Snap parliamentary elections in October reaffirmed Poroshenko’s mandate, as pro-Western parties claimed victory at the polls…and Poroshenko pledged to work toward membership in NATO…”
Michael Ray; for Britannica Editors”; Nov. 18, 2025; At Britannica
However, Poroshenko’s corruption became starkly obvious from the ‘Panama Papers’:
“Poroshenko’s credibility took a hit in April 2016, however, with the release of the so-called Panama Papers. . . Poroshenko had vowed to sell his business upon becoming president…he had instead moved his assets into an offshore holding company in the British Virgin Islands…the Ukrainian public expressed widespread dissatisfaction with his government as well as virtually all other establishment politicians. Government corruption and declining living standards remained the foremost issues ahead of the March 2019 presidential election… the race was upended by television personality Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky, an actor who had played the president of Ukraine in one of the country’s most popular situation comedies, emerged as an unlikely front-runner…(with) over 30 percent of the vote,..Poroshenko characterized Zelensky’s victory as the dawn of an uncertain era in Ukrainian history and vowed that the defeat would not mark the end of his political career.”
Michael Ray; for Britannica Editors”; Nov. 18, 2025; At Britannica
Zelensky’s own alliance with the now Oligarch of the golden-toilet – Timur Mindich – goes back to those election days:
“Timur Mindich… is a co-owner of Zelensky’s own former TV studio Kvartal 95, who was reportedly tipped off about the raid and had already fled the country to Israel. Mindich and his other close business associate, Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoysky, were instrumental in bringing the former comedian Zelensky to power in the 2019 presidential elections.”
Jason Melanovski; “ Zelensky government embroiled in massive corruption scandal”; World Socialist Website 17 November 2025
“The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine said that a former business partner of Mr. Zelensky’s, Timur Mindich, had organized the scheme, in which at least $100 million was stolen over the last 15 months from the state nuclear power company through kickbacks to contractors.”
Andrew E. Kramer; “ Zelensky Under Siege as Corruption Case Shatters Ukraine’s Wartime Unity “; New York Times 19 November 2025
Now, Poroshenko is once more the current USA protégé and can wreak revenge. He poses as the “honest” soul – Poroshenko is parading Zelensky’s corruption.
5. What happened with the 28-rule ultimatum?
There continues to be much wrangling about the exact content of the plan. Some of the “28 points” may be dropped. Marco Rubio for the USA is currently still probing how far the EU leaders can be pushed. For the EU the implications on whether Ukraine is able to join NATO remains of most concern.
They were designed directly with heavy Russian input. The EU leaders are unable to openly reject the USA president’s new initiative, but try to ‘steer’ a milder new plan. But currently it does not seem that Trump will digest this – saying if Zelensky does not accept “then he can continue to fight his little heart out”:
“Diplomats said that the peace plan — drawn up with Russian input and without consultation with Nato allies — and Trump’s ultimatum have created the most pivotal moment in the almost four-year war, and pose a huge test for Kyiv’s western allies. Attempts to forge a joint stance in response have been spearheaded by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Starmer. The frantic diplomatic negotiations have been complicated by a desire not to directly criticise Trump, officials said.
“We welcome the continued US efforts to bring peace to Ukraine,” the leaders said. “We are ready to engage in order to ensure that a future peace is sustainable.”
“Asked what would happen if Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not accept the offer, the US President replied: “Then he can continue to fight his little heart out.”
Henry Foy, Anna Gross, Christopher Miller; “ Kyiv’s allies insist more work is needed on US-Russian peace plan”: FT 22 November 2025
Once again, Zelensky faces an impossible choice:
“Zelenskyy said the choice was between “either loss of dignity or the risk of losing a key partner”, and that his country faced“one of the most difficult moments in our history.”
Henry Foy, Anna Gross, Christopher Miller; “ Kyiv’s allies” Ibid: FT 22 November 2025
As much as they can the EU pushes back, especially as they want no weakening of NATO:
“Ukraine’s western allies have called for “additional work” on a US-Russia peace plan and for the EU and Nato to be given a say over its contents as they seek to delay the terms being forced on Kyiv.
The 14 leaders, from countries that include European states plus Japan, Australia and Canada, said on Saturday that the “initial draft of the 28-point plan includes important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace”, in a joint statement agreed at an emergency meeting in Johannesburg.
“We believe therefore that the draft is a basis which will require additional work,” the leaders said. “We reiterate that the implementation of elements relating to the European Union and relating to Nato would need the consent of EU and Nato members respectively.”
Henry Foy, Anna Gross, Christopher Miller; “ Kyiv’s allies insist more work is needed on US-Russian peace plan”: FT 22 November 2025
6. What happens now?
It seems unlikely that there will be significant give from the USA despite the EU leaders voiced concerns:
“The meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit was called in response to a demand from Donald Trump’s administration that Ukraine agree to the 28-point proposal by next Thursday (ie November 27th). US officials warned that there was little room to negotiate a plan described by European officials as a “capitulation” to Moscow.”
FT 22 November 2025
Indeed, the presentation to the EU has been very reminiscent of how they were confronted with rude and belligerent displays by the USA Vice-President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025 (See Speech ).
On the current occasion, appositely, a good friend of Vance – USA Army secretary Daniel Driscoll was chosen to rough up the Europeans:
“The Trump administration has told Ukrainian and European officials there is little room to negotiate on its plan to end Russia’s war, as the US heaps pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign a deal drawn up with Moscow’s help by Thursday. US army secretary Daniel Driscoll told European ambassadors and Western officials at a volatile meeting in Kyiv late on Friday that he was “optimistic that now is the time for peace” — but warned that Washington would show little flexibility. “We are not negotiating details,” he said, according to a senior European official in the meeting at the Kyiv residence of US chargé d’affaires, Julie Davis. . .
Driscoll showed up late and laced his comments with profanities, according to people present. “We need to get this shit done,” he said.”
Christopher Miller, Henry Foy, Anna Gross: “A top European official described the tone of the meeting as “nauseating”. Trump envoys issue ultimatum to Ukraine to sign peace deal by Thursday.”; November 22, 2025
Conclusion
At the time of writing, we await the final details. They are unlikely to favour the position that we have adopted since the start of the Russian imperialist invasion of the Ukraine. Namely, the settlement is unlikely to further the cause of Ukrainian sovereignty and independence. Nor is Poroshenko going to lead the Ukrainian people and working class into a better future. What is missing in the whole situation is a Ukrainian Marxist-Leninist party and leadership.
