Trump built up to yesterdays debacle by making totally unfounded & provocative comments about Ukraine, Zelensky & the war.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9814k2jlxko
It seems entirely possible that the unedifying, bullying, shouting match was pre planned by Trump & Vance who were like attack dogs.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/28/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-transcript
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2019j0w9glo
I was listening in horror to PM on radio 4 as it unfolded & then watched on BBC TV news. T & V accused Zelensky of not being grateful or thankful enough for American aid. Yet Zelensky is on record as repeatedly acknowledging how grateful Ukraine is for everything both America & Europe has done for 3 years since Russias unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state. I would argue that America & Europe should be grateful & thankful for the way Ukraine has endured the Russian onslaught & has fought back bravely at huge cost in death & destruction. Ukraine has been & is defending Europe from a dictator who according to the BBC has caused "Russian military deaths (that) could range from 146,194 to 211,169. If one adds estimated losses from DPR and LPR forces, the total number of Russian-aligned fatalities may range from 167,194 to 234,669". A man who can tolerate those numbers of deaths & the concomitant number of injuries of his own people is not to be trusted an inch.
T & V accused Zelensky of being disrespectful. The world has now seen that deliberately playing out this shocking scrum in the Oval Office is disrespectful to the remnants of American democracy. Zelensky has been President of Ukraine in extremely difficult circumstances. He has been exemplary & I'm not in the least surprised that T & V managed to goad him into a response that I'm sure he didn't want. Personally I would have wanted to punch T & V's lights out for their total lack of respect for what Ukraine & Zelensky have endured. Respect goes both ways. T & V owed respect to Zelensky as the democratically elected president of a sovereign country. Instead they wouldn't even let him speak & harangued him stereophonically.
Trump & Vance have never been to Ukraine. They don't appear to have had balanced intel & advice about the war. Basically neither man seems to want to listen to alternative views to their own populist, right wing, perspective. They were both bullish & arrogant.
This is serious. It is the end of diplomacy as we know it. Maybe it does need to change, but not like this. It is a sad day when extremist, power hungry, bullies who want to dominate & manipulate are in charge of one of the most powerful countries in the world.
In total agreement 😡
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