In the red corner President Trump stands 6 feet 3 inches. In the blue corner President Zelensky is 5 feet 7 inches.
Trump, as he said on TV, holds all the cards (Zelenskyy intervened “we are not playing cards”) but not such a strong hand as not to require VP Vance on the wing. No sign of Vance at the recent Macron and Starmer press conferences in the Oval Office. Trump was right to worry he might not be able to bully Zelenskyy into signing away everything under the earth in Ukraine. It has been called a shouting match but it was only Trump and Vance shouting. The plan was to browbeat Zelenskyy into signing the deal. How could he back off in the Oval Office in front of the world media? They lobbed some crazy stuff at him like he was starting WW 3 and, bizarrely, being disrespectful to the Oval Office. What nonsense is that? The people who are disrespectful to buildings, etc are protesters daubing them with paint.
Zelensky may have been blind-sided by this ambush but stayed cool, once scratching his nose – probably unconsciously as he processed what was happening. Although rather small and wearing gym kit he did what we would all like to do, but would be too scared. He stood up to his aggressors as he has stood up to Putin. Yesterday evening veteran Labour politician, Douglas Alexander, said “ he is the bravest political leader in Europe since Winston Churchill”.
Thank you for that Christopher. Spot on. Bullies. We all recognise them from our schooldays. And, sadly, on through our lives.
Spot on and brilliantly described. It’s the inexplicable appeasement of a foul tyrant. Flashback to WW11. We should encourage Putin to reclaim Alaska.
Agreed….Bullies.
This really is the best and most astute synopsis of all that I have read about this ambush.
Perhaps you still might be some sort of professional political observer Christopher
Well written
As an American, it is particularly painful to see an elected leader dishonorably turn on allies and say he acts on behalf of the United States, while so many in our government who until recently said they supported democracy and would stand up for what is right — or even simply what is in our strategic interest — stay silent or actually parrot the bullies’ untruths.
Trump to Putin: “you keep Donbas and I’ll have the minerals”
By voting with Russia at the UN earlier this week and then trying to shake down Zelensky, “Bone Spur” Donald has betrayed the U.S. once again. As an American, I am ashamed and embarrassed for my once great country before the eyes of the world. To put it succinctly, Trump is a TRAITOR!