I stopped posting on this thread, after a “shit posting” penalty (I linked a fact based WSJ editorial that made a point about Biden WH Ukraine policy that was confirmed two days later in a news report).
I get it. I know what this message board is about.
I realize this post may be turned in, too, which is fine. I’m going to make some assertions that I think are founded.
1. Trump doesn’t give a shit about Ukraine. It’s not because he is a sociopath (although I think there is plenty of evidence of many emotional dysfunctions)- for example, he likes Israel just fine. For some screwed up reason, evidence of atrocities and crimes committed on Ukrainians doesn’t register with him. Maybe it’s related to #2.
2. Trump really dislikes Zelensky. It’s obvious, right? I suspect that it’s because their very first encounter, on the phone in 2019, went so badly for Trump. Trump wants to demean and humiliate Zelensky. (Obviously, Trump’s litany of complaints is ridiculous)
3. Zelensky is not Winston Churchill. Churchill was the leader of an island nation that Hitler could never have conquered (due to the superiority of the RN). Churchill needed US help to take the fight to the continent.
The historic analog for Volodomyr Zelensky is Nguyen Van Thieu, the leader of a nation that could not defend itself without U.S. support. Zelensky needs to understand and reflect on that.
4. Europe. This war has gone on for three years. Europe has a combined GDP that is over six times that of Russia. Ukraine does not need US help if Europe steps up. After Trump was elected, late last year, Zelensky met with several Euro leaders, seeking help. You can see the results.
Macron called an emergency Europeans-only meeting on Monday. It was a disaster.
Trump has called for Euro troops to be stationed in Ukraine to guarantee the peace. Starmer said he would send UK troops,…if Parliament agreed. Silence from the others (except for Poland, who said they were out, that their troops needed to stay in Poland).
5. Things are coming to a close. Trump’s best card to play is a threat of continued munitions support to Ukraine, and continued sanctions (This would also be a card Europe could play, if they had bothered to do anything serious the last three years), but that is a card he doesn’t seem to want to play.
The way it looks to me: Ukraine deserves freedom from oppression. There is a chance for most of the country to get that,…if Europe will agree to send troops. (Opinion- if European nations are not willing to send troops to guarantee peace- like the U.S. did for decades in Europe and Korea- they can sit down and shut the fuck up).
If Europe doesn’t send troops to help police a Ukrainian DMZ, then any “peace” will be temporary. (Europe really needs to consider the cost of millions of Ukrainian refugees).
Final thoughts:
The only heroes are the Ukrainians. Everyone else are clowns (west) and villains (Russia and its allies)
Ukraine needs to develop a nuke program and keep it secret from the west and east.