Trump/Zelensky interview in the White House

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Trump sees the Ukraine situation through the lens of cold hard reality. His words may feel harsh to the ears of sycophants who have been massaging Zelensky's ego for selfies and back pats over the last three years, but Trump's words are not false.

But FGT, however much you go on the attack to a Europe that is admittedly struggling to find the best response, you cannot show in anyway that Trump can deliver a place plan between Russia and the Ukraine.

Trump wanted Zelensky to sign away mineral rights, but he has nothing to offer in return to actually stop the war.

What has Trump actually got to offer after all his talks with Putin?

Where's the "deal" on a border thats acceptable to both Russia and the Ukraine? Indeed, where's the border?

Trump hasn't actually got a peace deal. Yesterday was about mineral rights.

For the last few weeks the US has tried to undermine Zelensky personally in preparation for yesterday. Calling him a dictator. Saying they should be calling elections when clearly they are under. martial war. And cosying up to Russia at the UN voting together.

Underneath the disgraceful bullying yesterday were two men desperate to get their minerals but nothing tangible to offer in return.

If they had - like border proposals, like Russia and the US having worked something out - then Zelensky had something to work from.

Yet you too, this morning, try to undermine Zelensky. He's egotistical. He's corrupt. He's ........

Just how far will you go as an apologist for Trump after last nights disgrace?

woodenspoon

They may not have etiquette and all the rest of it but nobody can deny they get things done. I wish we could say the same in the UK.

What have they “got done”?

mum2three

LOL......I don't need to justify myself but I will just clarify my earlier comment to all you pearl-clutchers.
The reason I found this spectacle entertaining is because usually on these occasions, everyone puts on their 'public face', giving a totally false impression. On this occasion, Trump was behaving in a way which is natural for him. He was showing his true nature, which few politicians do.
Biden was like a robot....Obama always seemed too good to be true. Trump is himself...what you see is what you get. If only our own politicians would be honest and show their true nature!

Perhaps you, like Trump, have no real idea about how diplomacy and international relationships work?

Thanks for calling us informed and decent folk “pearl clutchers”, sure we are all devastated,

I stand by my first response, it was a disgusting display!

We’re so out of our depth on this issue PoliticsNerd - the geo political implications from this may be far reaching. I am thinking plate tectonics. I honestly don’t care if Trump is or isn’t a scoundrel. China, Russia and USA are all in this mess and Europe needs to work out where it needs to be.

Parts of Europe have for some time not paid sufficient contributions towards the upkeep of Nato and I can appreciate that.
But last night's tirade was Trump at his bullying, recalcitrant worst, staging a show in his persona of reality show host of The Apprentice to impress his supporters. He is not a President, not a man with any understanding of politics, just one who relies on shows of brute force and ignorance, which makes him doubly dangerous.

Madgran77

..I actually believe it is right to speak ones mind and say what you think but THIS was not it!

I think the conversation evolved naturally. It started offf normally but quickly became heated.

..I actually believe it is right to speak ones mind and say what you think but THIS was not it!

They may not have etiquette and all the rest of it but nobody can deny they get things done. I wish we could say the same in the UK.

mum2three

I thoroughly enjoyed the scene. Trump speaks his mind...no pussyfooting about with this man. How refreshing after Biden and Obama....sucking up and appeasing.

Enjoyed it? Good grief!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to protect your own country (Trump AND Zelensky)

There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to fund any further fighting and looking for a peace agreement.

There’s everything wrong in deliberately attempting to discredit, disrespect and humiliate another country’s leader on live TV, which you know is going to be broadcast across the globe.

Trump and Vance have zero idea about manners, diplomacy and etiquette.

Many of us can see Trump wants his hands on Ukraine’s earth! He couldn’t care less who suffers.

Trump and Zelensky have this in common, neither was a politician before becoming president so lessons in diplomacy have passed them by.
Zelensky was not up for flattering Trump and Trump and Vance took offence. Wiley old politician Putin will be delighted.

mum2three

LOL......I don't need to justify myself but I will just clarify my earlier comment to all you pearl-clutchers.
The reason I found this spectacle entertaining is because usually on these occasions, everyone puts on their 'public face', giving a totally false impression. On this occasion, Trump was behaving in a way which is natural for him. He was showing his true nature, which few politicians do.
Biden was like a robot....Obama always seemed too good to be true. Trump is himself...what you see is what you get. If only our own politicians would be honest and show their true nature!

I agree with this. Other politicians do not show their true nature until it’s too late.

Trump sees the Ukraine situation through the lens of cold hard reality. His words may feel harsh to the ears of sycophants who have been massaging Zelensky's ego for selfies and back pats over the last three years, but Trump's words are not false.

That’s very interesting FGT and I suspect I know who will end up paying for the bulk of support to Ukraine. After all, hasn’t Starmer just signed 100 year agreement to support them.

I don’t believe that any agreement made between Ukraine and the USA involved the USA paying out unlimited amounts for an unknown number of years on demand to Ukraine. Maremia

ronib

PoliticsNerd not for me to say. We’re trying to make sense of a changing landscape. Trump is changing the way politics is played. It’s up to America now. Maybe we need a bit of distance until it’s worked out.

But you choose to "say" ronib. So why stop justifying the scoundrel now?

Maremia

How many of you know that Ukraine once had nuclear weapons on its soil?
How many of you know about the deal made between the USA and Russia, the 1990's, to persuade Ukraine to get rid of those weapons, for the sake of world peace.
In that deal the USA guaranteed Ukraine's security.
Ukraine has EVERY RIGHT to ask the USA for help now.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I knew that.

LOL......I don't need to justify myself but I will just clarify my earlier comment to all you pearl-clutchers.
The reason I found this spectacle entertaining is because usually on these occasions, everyone puts on their 'public face', giving a totally false impression. On this occasion, Trump was behaving in a way which is natural for him. He was showing his true nature, which few politicians do.
Biden was like a robot....Obama always seemed too good to be true. Trump is himself...what you see is what you get. If only our own politicians would be honest and show their true nature!

“Emmanuel Macron has been accused of blocking a €30 billion weapons programme for Ukraine despite promising Donald Trump that Europe would step up its support for Kyiv.

The “enhanced EU military support to Ukraine scheme” was drawn up in response to the US president’s demand for Europe to carry a greater share of the burden for backing Ukraine’s defence against the Russian invasion.

The plan, outlined in a paper seen by The Telegraph, aims to deliver 1.5 million artillery rounds, precision-strike missiles, air-defence systems, drones and provide training for Ukrainian recruits this year.

Read more: Macron ‘blocking’ €30bn EU weapons programme despite promise to Trump”

PoliticsNerd not for me to say. We’re trying to make sense of a changing landscape. Trump is changing the way politics is played. It’s up to America now. Maybe we need a bit of distance until it’s worked out.

GrannyGravy13

I have just seen this squabble

POTUS along with his VP have shown their true colours to the worlds media.

They are not statesmen, they are playground bullies, not interested in negotiating, they have to be top dogs regardless of who they trample over to get there.

This! I agree

MaizieD

Baggs

I tend to agree, GG13, but it did just occur to me that this is their clumsy and rude, but poosibly effective, way of getting Europe to install better defence systems in their own countries instead of lazily depending on the US. Trump has, after all, always made it clear that he thinks European countries should bump up their defence capabilities.

I think you’re forgetting some history. Europe became a US military base because of US fear/hatred of the Soviet Union and the non soviet European countries were broke after WW2. The US has been perfectly content to keep shelling out, and to embroil us in its military interferences in various places.

It’s only Trump, with his US as a business which is being sh*t on by its allies, views who has changed the dynamic.

And yet it was only Pearl Harbour that brought the US into WW2.

Western European countries feared the Soviet Union too so it wasn't just a US military base. We wanted the US involved in the Cold War.

"The US has been perfectly content to keep shelling out"
Can you back this up a bit? Is it really only Trump who has wanted Europe to spend more on its own defence? <-- genuine question; I have not paid much attention to US presidents' foreign policy.

Also, who is shitting on the US? I thought the point was that Trump is shitting on Europe! ColourMeConfused.

Maremia

How many of you know that Ukraine once had nuclear weapons on its soil?
How many of you know about the deal made between the USA and Russia, the 1990's, to persuade Ukraine to get rid of those weapons, for the sake of world peace.
In that deal the USA guaranteed Ukraine's security.
Ukraine has EVERY RIGHT to ask the USA for help now.

👏👏👏👏👏

mum2three

I thoroughly enjoyed the scene. Trump speaks his mind...no pussyfooting about with this man. How refreshing after Biden and Obama....sucking up and appeasing.

What a truly awful comment!

Zelensky is an open honest man who genuinely cares about his country and its citizens AND he, and his people, are the victims.

I find your entire post shocking and frankly ridiculous!

How many of you know that Ukraine once had nuclear weapons on its soil?
How many of you know about the deal made between the USA and Russia, the 1990's, to persuade Ukraine to get rid of those weapons, for the sake of world peace.
In that deal the USA guaranteed Ukraine's security.
Ukraine has EVERY RIGHT to ask the USA for help now.