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Diplomacy dies on live TV as Trump and Vance gang up to bully Ukraine leader
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2025
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This was an ambush. Straight up ambush. This was designed from the beginning. It was literally the geopolitical equivalent of a professional wrestling "Heel turn". The whole point of this was literally for Trump to make Zelensky come to the White House, make Zelensky grovel at Trump's feet for assistance, and expect him to thank them for the opportunity to grovel.
They even got Marjorie Trailer-Park Greene's boyfriend in on the act as he was one of the only American press members allowed in the room and took a cheap shot at him about not wearing a suit. Fucking pathetic waste of human flesh trying to suck up to Trump by kicking a man while he's down and unable to defend himself.
Vance admitted during the exchange that they were pissed because Zelensky stumped for Harris one time. Trump admitted after he kicked Zelensky out that it was because he didn't want Zelensky saying bad things about Putin. And he also said it was going to make for great television. The whole thing was a setup. I don't even think Trump cared about the mineral rights. That was just bait. It was meant to get Zelensky on TV and humiliate him as revenge for not engaging in political corruption with Trump in 2020 and for stumping for Harris, while also setting up a narrative to support the US fully pulling support from Ukraine, which I expect to be announced probably within the next 48 hours.
The setup was that this deal gave the US veto power over how Ukraine spent it's mineral resources, which could be used to blackmail them in all sorts of ways, including forcing ceasefire and land cessation and any number of shady Trump-backed deals. Zelensky made clear this would only be considered if it coincided with some prospect of security guarantees, which Trump refused to even hint at.
This entire meeting was a setup to bully him into signing it regardless and Zelensky didn't bite so they went off on him to blame him for things falling apart.
Nothing was lost herr except a lot of people's time and the dignity of the US. Trump was never gonna help Ukraine secure actual lasting peace, he serves Russia
Yours is the only credible explanation I've seen so far
Here's something I thought of while watching: Who's backing up Zelenskiy and giving him the courage to walk away like he did?
Somewhat related: Years ago I read a blog post about "who's really in charge". Basically it's the MIC. At what point does the MIC flex and assert its interests in continuing the conflict in Ukraine?
Trump's hands were quickly tied in 2017, just as Obama found himself in 2009, by the bureaucracy, congressional gridlock, and the demands of the donor class. It's the overarching theme of a Chapo miniseries, Hell of Presidents: US executives have little ability to make sweeping changes even when they have a mandate.
So now he's there and trying to beat them all by firing everyone. Trump's only personal goals seem to be ending Ukraine conflict and pretending to be tough on immigration. He hires loyalist sycophants and lets them pursue their own agendas (Christianists, Nazis, RFK medical quackery, etc) because they agree to stay out of his way on his pet issues.
The lawless takeover by Musk has kept me awake at night. These people are just doing whatever they want and daring anybody to stop them.
What I saw in this bizarre piece of diplomacy theatre was a huge crack in the facade. Nobody conducts serious diplomacy this way. This is desperation by Trump to gain some leverage through public opinion and put Zelenskiy on the spot. Trump's desired course of action with Ukraine threatens the legitimacy and mission of the postwar empire (regardless of what you or I think about US imperialism and NATO) and a lot of folks are deeply invested in that arrangement
This is all just ideas floating around in my head that seem somehow related. I'm sure someone else can make sense of it, or tell me why I'm way off base
Sorry for my ignorance, what’s/who’s the MIC?
Military Industrial Complex
Ahh gotcha
According to details leaking to the press, Zelenskyy didn’t walk but was thrown out.
My take on this is that Trump promised that he would end the war quickly. Turns out it's not that easy to do so that it pleases Putin and make him rich. Then escalates the conversation into a shouting match so that he can deflect the blame on Zelenksy and save face.
It’s also revenge for Zelenskyy not complying with Trumps extortion to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden, which led to Trumps first impeachment. He hates Zelenskyy for that.