The Oval Office Shouting Match - Wrap-Up
The first 40 or so minutes of yesterday's oval office press talk (vid) went quite normal. Questions were asked and replies were given in general form, addressing the public. There was some mild banter. But then a breakdown (vid) occurred:
It was all destroyed when JD Vance, the US vice-president entered the conversation to declare: “The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy.“We tried the pathway of Joe Biden of thumping our chest and pretending the Potus’s words counted more than Potus’s actions,” he declared.
To anyone who has spent time in or around the Ukraine war, such airy talk of “diplomacy” – as if it means anything without hard force to back it up – is exasperatingly naive.
Mr Zelensky should probably have let it slide. But he was not taking it.
“Can I ask you?” he asked, leaning towards Mr Vance.
“Sure,” replied Mr Vance.
...
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you speaking about? What do you mean?”It was a mistake.
There followed a barrage of invective about Ukrainian ungratefulness – in front of the world’s media.
For anyone who remembers how the whole Ukraine conflict was initiated by the U.S., the hypocrisy played out here is overwhelming.
How can one, as Trump and Vance do, lament that the war has destroyed Ukraine and led to countless people dying for no good cause and, at the same time, demand that Ukraine be thankful for all the 'advice', weapons and money the U.S. has given in first place to drag Ukraine into a war and to wage it.
But Zelenski wasn't upset about U.S. hypocrisy. He was upset that he was told to make peace.
The bad mood he was in had already festered for some time. In late 2023 Simon Shuster had portrait Zelenski for Time:
On my first day in Kyiv, I asked one member of his circle how the President was feeling. The response came without a second’s hesitation: “Angry.”
...
[M]ost of all, Zelensky feels betrayed by his Western allies. They have left him without the means to win the war, only the means to survive it.But his convictions haven’t changed. Despite the recent setbacks on the battlefield, he does not intend to give up fighting or to sue for any kind of peace. On the contrary, his belief in Ukraine’s ultimate victory over Russia has hardened into a form that worries some of his advisers. It is immovable, verging on the messianic. “He deludes himself,” one of his closest aides tells me in frustration. “We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.”
Trump and Vance tried to tell him - Zelenski exploded. Some say this was trap or set up. I and others disagree. It was Trump who wanted the 'mineral deal' to be signed. Why would he sabotage that?
It would have been easy for Zelenski to not react to Vance's interdiction but he instead started a fight. He even might have dreamed of a knock out.
The incident, in full view of the U.S. public, will allow Trump to drop Ukraine as the bad asset that it now is. As I commented yesterday:
What will Trump do now?Best guess:
- He will walk away from Ukraine. (No rare earth deal or anything else.)
- Europeans will be ignored (Macron had urged him to meet Zelenski ---> bad!)
- He will make a deal with Russia. Rare earth, lifting sanctions and much more.
There seems to be no regret by Zelenski who has failed to apologize.
Meanwhile USAID has stopped repairs of Ukraine's energy grid. Other U.S. support is highly endangered:
Trump administration press secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that the U.S. will no longer provide military assistance to Ukraine because their priority is peace negotiations. This decision came after the controversy during Zelensky’s visit."We are no longer going to just write blank checks for a war in a very distant country without a real, lasting peace," Leavitt said.
Zelenski hopes that Europe will back him. But while some European bots claim to stand by Ukraine they have neither the men, money nor weapons to do so. There is no European unity on it:
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are 'very unhappy' they were betrayed by being excluded from tomorrow's Ukraine summit in London. They 'have a plan... but they weren't invited' - Sky News
Zelenski will have to go - one way or the other. His former advisor, the slimy Oleksy Arestovych, is already offering himself as replacement:
Arestovych @arestovych - 14:03 UTC · Mar 1, 2025- Zelensky is not just proposing war - he’s proposing war without weapons.
He weakened the army (failed 55% of the defense procurement plan), lost U.S. support, and divided the country.
Without him, Ukraine would fight better and make peace faster and more effectively.
I stand for peace.
There is a way out - Zelensky, step down.
The Russians are the big winner in this. Ukraine is in a scuffle with its main sponsor. The western alliance has splintered. The enemies' frontline is falling apart.
Russia is opposed to Trump's main demand of a cease-fire along the current frontline. But Zelenski is blamed for sabotaging it.
I do not see how Zelenski can escape from this.
Posted by b on March 1, 2025 at 16:18 UTC | Permalink
next page »“ I do not see how Zelenski can escape from this.”
Never underestimate the stupidity of the European allies.
Posted by: DG | Mar 1 2025 16:26 utc | 2
While Victoria “Fuck the EU” Nuland sits comfortably in her Columbia University sinecure & National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Board of Directors chair, watching the carnage she unleashed:
These idiots - might end up going down with Zelensky.
"Kaja Kallas just pronounced that the EU opts for continued war in Ukraine, until the aggressor (Russia) is... defeated."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 16:33 utc | 4
the truth is both parties have created this mess - usa and ukraine... while the administrations may change, it remains a project that the usa and ukraine signed onto for the goal of nato membership and more...
zelensky has been dead man walking for some time, so their is that too.. trump/vance would like to blame past administrations for this, but it is built into the usa system they inherited... the usa under wall st/imf and etc are already heavily invested in this and have made a shit ton of money off it... if trump/vance can push thru an end to this war, i will acknowledge their work... meanwhile europe has gone warmonger on steroids... we'll see how it goes... z has to go.. that much is very apparent.. thanks b..
Posted by: james | Mar 1 2025 16:33 utc | 5
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are 'very unhappy' they were betrayed by being excluded from tomorrow's Ukraine summit in London. They 'have a plan... but they weren't invited' - Sky News
The reason these villages were excluded from the meeting is because they are next on the menu.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 1 2025 16:40 utc | 6
The incident, in full view of the U.S. public, will allow Trump to drop Ukraine as the bad asset that it now is.Yes, and that was the plan.
Someone mentioned that the US likes profitable wars. But Ukraine is no longer profitable.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 1 2025 16:43 utc | 7
Of course Trump is using the Zelensky visit and the whole Ukraine mess for partisan advantage.
Trump is distancing himself from everything that occurred under the Dems and Biden.
But that partisan advantage taking also benefits the whole USA. We gotta get out of this mess and move on. It's a shame that people who followed the Saker blog and a few others such as MoA who provided deeper insights into the Ukraine situation never carried any weight in the mainstream.
So, there is no point in handwringing over "American hypocrisy."
There is also no question but that Zelensky made very bad decisions from the get-go, taking bad advice and not choosing his friends wisely (Boris Johnson was no friend of Ukraine).
That buck stops at Zelensky's desk, if he has one. He was always a wannabe, basically an image maker strutting like a bantam cock in his ridiculous costume. He thought this meant something, and a lot of idiots supported him in this and other delusions.
Plus, he oversaw the embezzlement or off-channeling of millions of dollars, a lot of it to himself. Remember his wife's buying spree in Paris. Come on! There is nothing whatsoever to regret in Zelensky's richly deserved fate, whatever it may be.
Posted by: Jane | Mar 1 2025 16:45 utc | 8
Victoria Nuland may not be sitting so free and easy after all.
https://x.com/USAEdMartin/status/1895862712309334064
For B and the rest of the Euros…how many times do we have to tell you? Trump and Vance do not consider themselves hypocritical. Why? BECAUSE THE TRIUMPH OF MAGA WAS A REVOLUTION. Revolutionary governments do not endorse the policy of prior governments. They do not feel hypocritical in renouncing them. THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF A REVOLUTION. Did you people whine about the Bolsheviks not living up the commitments of the Czar or the Kerensky? No, you understood from the start that they rejected them both.
Get it through your heads, it isn’t artifice. The Trump regime rejects all that has come before. It is a revolution within the system. Or if you want another analogy, considering that the US Constitution enshrines the English Monarchy as it stood in the 18th Century, it is as a new king took the throne who was a rival of the old king. He endorses all of the power, prestige, and authority of the people existing system but he explicitly rejects all that the old king did with it.
If you want to understand Trump and MAGA, understand it’s revolutionary nature. You don’t have to agree with it, but that is the perspective. Evaluating its methods and motives is much easier if you understand that.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 1 2025 16:46 utc | 9
The word ‘impeachment’ has popped up again...
It's time to judge him: the deputy called on the Rada to decide on the impeachment of Zelenskyhttps://eadaily.com/en/news/2025/02/28/its-time-to-judge-him-the-deputy-called-on-the-rada-to-decide-on-the-impeachment-of-zelenskyVerkhovna Rada deputy Alexander Dubinsky demanded the immediate convening of an emergency meeting of parliament to decide on the impeachment of Volodymyr Zelensky. He said this in his statement published in the telegram channel.
"The events of recent hours — Zelensky's public humiliation at the White House, Trump's recognition by (US President Donald) Trump of his diplomatic bankruptcy and Ukraine's loss of unconditional US support — have become the final act of the collapse of the regime. But Zelensky has not just failed international politics — he has brought the country to a state in which everyone who disagrees with his course is subjected to repression. I was thrown into prison not for a crime, but for telling the truth. The very truth that Trump has just told: Zelensky has lost, he has no cards, he is running out of soldiers, and the country is at an impasse because of his stubbornness. I demand the immediate convening of an emergency meeting of the Verkhovna Rada, at which the parliament must decide on the impeachment of Zelensky," the MP writes.
He imputes Zelensky:
- the failure of foreign policy, which led to the international isolation of Ukraine and the loss of support for allies;
- a lost war, which was the result of incompetent leadership and catastrophic decisions;
- violations of citizens' rights and usurpation of power, expressed in the suppression of the opposition, the persecution of dissenters and authoritarian methods of government."I appeal to all people's deputies of Ukraine — do not waste time, stop waiting! Zelensky is bankrupt. It's time to judge him. If he is not able to offer a real way out of the crisis, then it's time for all of us to make fateful decisions, to determine a group for negotiations with the United States. Zelensky is not equal to Ukraine. Zelensky believed that he could rule Ukraine from a position of strength. Now he has lost. Ukraine must decide whether it will continue to fall into the abyss or start fighting for real independence," the politician concludes.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 1 2025 16:47 utc | 10
@6
To be more precise, the UK wants to use the Baltic states to war with Russia. They are trying to achieve this by physically blocking and sabotaging Russian affiliated commercial vessels in the Baltic sea.
The EU/UK globalists are desperate, because if peace were to break out, the fog of war wave reveals the absolute bankrupt state from which EU and UK can't recover. They committed everything and then some to Ukraine, have no more industries, have massive piles of debt, stripped social and pension funds for Ukraine, hiked taxes massively for Ukraine, bankrupting their enterpreneurs in the process, left only USA as a source of energy, etc.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 1 2025 16:47 utc | 11
Never having understood why Trump needs an excuse to walk away from a deal he himself touted, the notion this was a set up to undercut Zelensky for someone who will sign still seems plausible to me. If Trump didn't want the deal---which I still thinks can only serve as cover for continued support---he shouldn't have created it. That Trump wants the EU/NATO to pay more and control the size of European military budgets still does not seem to me to be some peace making move. I still don't think a general settlement between Russia and the US carving up the world is possible for Russia, which needs a Ukrainian settlement most. A TBD clause in some so-called Yalta II isn't good enough I think. And for that matter I can't see how Trump's overall plans for EU's austerity doesn't ultimately require Brussels as the scourge. Or how NATO can't stay under US control without its membership. Turning NATO into a more servile organization, which seems to be the goal, requires NATO continue. Not sure Trump realizes that?
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 16:49 utc | 12
@ Unimperator 6
Whose menu? I'm not sure Russia would want these people ie the three ugly Baltic sisters, at all and her friends in Brics would not want to see conflict there at all.
Or are you thinking of the US rejecting them somehow?
JB
Posted by: Judge Barbier | Mar 1 2025 16:49 utc | 13
Full video, different POV
There must have been at least 30 television cameras in the White House fireplace room during the 49 minute press conference. This video by Forbes gives a better angle of view of the arrangement, also showing the press at the other end of the room. Enjoy!
BREAKING NEWS: Trump And Zelensky Oval Office Meeting Ends In Utter Disaster In Front Of The Cameras
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 1 2025 16:51 utc | 14
King Charles will meet Volodymyr Zelensky at his Sandringham country retreat tomorrow.
The meeting comes as concerns grow over the future of the Nato transatlantic alliance following Mr Zelensky’s blow out with Donald Trump in the Oval office on Friday.
“Zelensky was always due to be in the UK this weekend and so a meeting with the King was pencilled in,” a Palace insider told The Sun.
They added that the royal welcome was planned before the clash between Mr Zelensky and Mr Trump and insisted the meeting is not a response to the White House spat.
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 1 2025 16:53 utc | 15
@ U imperator
Thank you , now I follow. I think you're right too.
JB
Posted by: Judge Barbier | Mar 1 2025 16:54 utc | 16
"It was Trump who wanted the 'mineral deal' to be signed. Why would he sabotage that?"
Because his team did their homework & realized the mineral riches were vastly overstated? Already promised in exchange for UK hundred year alliance?
It was a set up. The press was invited to ensure the world got to see the takedown.
Z is an angry, arrogant cokehead with delusions of grandeur. They waited for the right moment to poke, knowing they could trigger the meltdown. Live on teevee. Welcome to the Worldwide Wrestling Experience.
Posted by: Mary | Mar 1 2025 16:54 utc | 17
Trump's main goal is to defeat Dems in midterms. Let's remember that many sitting presidents lost them and then they had lame duck presidency. He needs as much dirt on Dems and there must be tons of that in Ukraine. Fox asked Zelenski if he is going to conduct audit of US help. The answer was no. JDVance reproached Zelenski for going to Pennsylvania and talking good there about Biden in October 2024. Trump behaved like that himself and Putin had common enemy - Biden/Clinton+CIA/FBI gang. I think that this is what was discussed behind closed door. Rare earth are a fig leaf. Zele doesn't want to hand over evidence so he has no political value anymore.
Posted by: J_Schneider | Mar 1 2025 16:55 utc | 18
'It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal.'
— Henry Kissinger
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 1 2025 16:56 utc | 19
The first forty minutes is crucial to an understanding of what happened.
Trump laid out his rational for the war's end. The US can't afford it. The risk of WW3 is too high. Ukraine has no troops left.
Trump says that he spoke with Putin and that a deal is possible. It will involve compromises. But that's realistic.
Trump says troops won't be needed. The US will be "on the inside" economically in terms of "rebuilding."
The US, in exchange, will get "raw earth" (sic) for weapons, computers, batteries, etc.
Win-win, i.e. peace and economic transactions.
When Zelensky is given the floor he says that he knows what his European allies are ready to give militarily and implies that he wants US backing for continuing the war.
This is not what Trump wants to hear.
Zelensky then pulls out photos of soldiers and children and tries to manipulate Trump with such emotional games.
He says that he wants details worked out about security guarantees in the mineral deal.
Trump figures out that Zelensky is rejecting the peace deal. More than that, he is even rejecting a ceasefire. Zelensky wants to keep fighting.
He insults Trump by saying that the US may not be safe in the future.
At that point the selected journalist hits Zelensky with the suit question and the dumping takes place in public.
This is a historic turn of events. Trump canned the "insolent pig" in public and declared a US exit from European security.
Now the US will be forced to seek a separate deal with Russia.
Atlanticism died yesterday. Both Ukraine and the European imperial project are in deep trouble.
Posted by: Crumchy | Mar 1 2025 16:56 utc | 20
Please see the excellent riposte to Zelensky pity by Patrick Lawrence at The Unz Review:
https://www.unz.com/plawrence/chihuahuas-not-dobermans/
Posted by: Jane | Mar 1 2025 16:57 utc | 21
Calling Arestovych 'slimy' was unnecesssary and questionable. I know nothing about his personal qualities and they should not be a matter of discussion. He is however, very intelligent and has a deep understanding of both the practical side and the more philosophical aspects of politics. Ukraine would be far better of with him than with any other possible candidate.
Posted by: Hamburger | Mar 1 2025 16:58 utc | 22
King Charles will meet Volodymyr Zelensky at his Sandringham country retreat tomorrow.
Apollyon (15).
The English royals have a history of cavorting with Nazi's.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 16:59 utc | 23
At their meeting in the Whitehouse, Starmer & Trump (or to be precise the PTB behind these frontmen) send a silent message over the insecure 'broadcast' channel to the rank & file in the field.
"A picture is worth a thousand words".
Feeling a soft spot for Europeans (which certainly does not include the lair of the dragon and the "victimized" bear) given your undeniable contributions to human civilization, so hint hint for all those confused in EU. What is 'new' and 'unusual' about the picture of these two men sitting together? I wish you well.
& Salaam
Posted by: sunof27 | Mar 1 2025 16:59 utc | 24
I suppose now that the Orange Zionist Yankee POTUS, is not as interested in defending Ukrainian interests - that Putin should try and quickly crush any Neo-Nazi resistance - before more of this happens.
"Russian air defenses have intercepted three drones near a key compressor station in Krasnodar Region servicing the TurkStream gas pipeline, in what the Defense Ministry in Moscow has described as a Ukrainian sabotage attempt.
The pipeline delivers Russian natural gas to Turkish customers and several European countries, including Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Greece. Operational since January 2020, it has an annual capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters.
In a statement on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that “on the night of February 28, against the backdrop of [Ukrainian leader] Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Washington, the Kiev regime carried out yet another attempt to attack the Russkaya gas compressor station in the village of Gaikodzor… with the help of three fixed-wing UAVs.” Moscow suggested that Kiev had sought to disrupt the delivery of Russian gas to European nations."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 17:03 utc | 25
I don't suppose he could do a much worse job of it - than the current lot are doing.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin should be the ‘leader of the free world’, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said. His remarks came in response to the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who suggested that the bloc must assume the mantle from the US following Washington’s policy shift on Ukraine.
On Friday, Kallas, along with several other EU leaders, reiterated their support for Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who engaged in a heated exchange with US President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday. Trump accused Zelensky of not being grateful for American assistance and not being willing to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict, while the Ukrainian leader urged Washington to continue its military support for Kiev while warning that failure to do so would backfire on the US."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 17:07 utc | 26
Alexander Dugin has the correct word for the events at the White House:
Defenestration
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 1 2025 17:13 utc | 27
Hang on - the German politicians want the war to continue with Russia - but German businesses want Russian oil and gas back on the menu - I doubt the first will allow the second their wish - and Germany's economy will continue to travel down a slippy slope.
"Key German industrial leaders have expressed their desire to see Russian gas return to Europe once a resolution to the Ukraine conflict is found, Bloomberg has reported.
Chemical and manufacturing sector representatives argue that affordable energy is crucial for Germany’s economy to recover, the agency wrote on Friday.
European gas prices surged after the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Pipeline gas imports from Russia mostly ceased due to sanctions and the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. Nevertheless, EU nations have still been buying record volumes of Russian LNG, the cost of which has nearly quadrupled in three years, according to Eurostat."
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 17:13 utc | 28
It's time Zelensky move into his waterfront Dubai villa beside the other former discarded useful idiot; Ashraf Ghani.
Posted by: Saag | Mar 1 2025 17:13 utc | 29
Victoria Nuland may not be sitting so free and easy after all.https://x.com/USAEdMartin/status/1895862712309334064
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 1 2025 16:46 utc | 9
No one has ever been convicted under the Logan Act, the last indictment in 1852 did not result in a conviction. In most cases, a potential charge could be easily defended as protected free speech under the Constitution. These people also have the additional protection of being Zionists.
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Mar 1 2025 17:15 utc | 30
To me it looks like Vance was the one to deliberately goad Selensky into offending Trump. It's only after Vance made his "chest thumping" remark that Selensky's body language changed. And Vance then drew Trump's attention to the fact that Selensky was ungrateful and disrespectful - both things that Trump cannot abide. It may not have been a set-up by Trump, but that doesn't mean that the escalation wasn't intended by someone else.
Posted by: LD | Mar 1 2025 17:15 utc | 31
Saag (30).
I'd say if he's not bumped-off - he'll end-up living in England, probably London - the English PM loves his hatred of all things Russian - and Zelensky will have squirreled away a right few bob from stolen aid, and selling-off Ukrainian assets.
One-time English PM Margaret Thatcher - invited her good buddy to live in England the war criminal General Pinochet.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 17:18 utc | 32
The one question Zelensky was not asked was "Was killing Gonzalo Lira a crime?"
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 1 2025 17:22 utc | 33
I've always been skeptical that the deal was for real and not for show...
Who really expects to make a deal with the Ukrainians? That have a reputation for being weasels and scammers for a reason.
That said, there was one potential sliver of good in the idea of locking down hard assets and port -- I'm surprised nobody really has noticed this:
So much of the conflict is driven by the oligarch's desire to get some sort of an agreement with the EU that would allow them to sell off their illiquid assets. Current Ukraine political leadership is in on it, as well as EU countries too I'm sure.
A "rare earth" deal that has expanded to locking down resources, owning/controlling ports, with methods for auditing, counting and verifying numbers -- this makes corruption harder, at least at the mega-scale.
Is this really worth the effort for the US? Not really...but just the thought of it has driven Z and the EU-crats nuts it seems. If the monetary motivation for the war can be removed, things might just colapse all on their own.
Posted by: Houseplant | Mar 1 2025 17:26 utc | 34
As someone who remembers why Ukrainians voted for Zelensky and knows that he tried to stop the war in the east, I feel sorry for him. He did the right thing to reject the mineral deal. The West dragged Ukraine into this war, they prevented Zelensky from doing an agreement with Putin in 2022. Trump and Vance talk a great deal about the money they have given Ukraine but at what cost? Also Ukraine did not receive all the money. The majority of it has gone to US weapons manufactures. Now they want Zelensky to sign away his country's natural resources? He shouldn't. He made the mistake of listening to Boris Johnson. He should not make the mistake of selling out his country anymore.
Zelensky should call for an election. Let the Ukrainian people decide the next phase. He can use Trump calling him a dictator as an excuse. Ask the people if they want the mineral deal? Let them vote on Putin's ceasefire deal too.
Posted by: Georgie | Mar 1 2025 17:29 utc | 35
B, while I appreciate you, you give too much importance to Murica and its silly ways.
They can not be taken seriously, crazy country on the edge, with a crazy person to represent it, orange idiot at the moment.
Have you read Henry James? Describes perfectly the barbarians who visit our old world.
Here is the little speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeLu_yyz3tc
from a primitive idiot Friedman.
Now they are poised to destroy Europe, just to claw a little more for themselves, time and resources they want. They bit too much with Russia.
Thus, this primitive and hungry part of our planet is getting crazy.They are despicable, not worth of attention.
Please, do not give them a time of the day, sick nation of idiots...Just the minimum.
They do not decide anything anymore, sick bastards...
No power at all.
Posted by: stranger | Mar 1 2025 17:30 utc | 36
As to our host's skepticism that this was a set up? J.D. Vance to my eyes began it, with “Mr President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Given that the press conference and its very large number of journalists was completely within White House control, it is entirely unclear how anyone can honestly see Zelensky as "relitigating." I believe that the objection was to Zelensky's not simply signing.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 17:30 utc | 37
Well, I have read that Zelensky is rethinking his actions and will sign this horrible deal. I felt that Trump wanted this deal to be signed, to present it as a win for his administration and notably as a win for his “peace” deal with Russia. From what I can gather from this deal, more important than the minerals and oil and gas resources, is the logistics, which will put US control over the port of Odessa. This would be huge for the warmongers in Congress who would salivate over that port, which would be a perfect place for US naval vessels and ships who would be a stone throw away from Crimea. A horrible turn of events since it would also impede access to Transnistria. I remember during the Crimea referendum, US naval ships were in the Black Sea, ready to take port in Sevastopol if the voting went against Russia. What will stop the US from exploiting this huge win against Russia? This deal will be bad for the future of the area.
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Mar 1 2025 17:32 utc | 38
Obvious from yesterday:
Trump is not Obama or vapid Biden, the TDS displayed by liberals who hated war during Nixon now demand quagmire against their TDS.
Trump is cutting off the Atlanticist BS, it is propaganda.
Ze is losing, he can’t win and Stalin’s Kievan SSR is not worthy US support much less long war.
The world materially and morally is better without the Atlantic Council agenda for Russia.
Posted by: paddy | Mar 1 2025 17:47 utc | 39
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Mar 1 2025 16:47 utc | 10
###########
Isn't it funny that Europe is willing to donate its blood to Ukraine, and the Ukrainians feel completely isolated when Trump puts Z in his place?
What a stupid and immature people.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 1 2025 17:50 utc | 40
Petri [email protected], you made me watch the whole thing....I'd only seen and heard snips....
Trump gets the death, I appreciate he pointed out people are dying on both sides, Russians and Ukrainians. He seems adamant that the death must stop. That he gave Putin a free pass at the end over Piddle Gate, fair play to him, for the world on national TV, he slammed the Hunter Biden Honey Trap.....he covered so much territory, so quickly, the end was off the cuff, but he did say, and it bears repeating, "I let this run a little longer so the American people can see what we are dealing with"......Checkmate.
Cheers M
.....and I don't really like the guy, but even the 'bomb on the head' quip ..... priceless.
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 1 2025 17:51 utc | 41
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are 'very unhappy' they were betrayed by being excluded from tomorrow's Ukraine summit in London. They 'have a plan... but they weren't invited' - Sky News
The reason these villages were excluded from the meeting is because they are next on the menu.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 1 2025 16:40 utc | 6
Well, they were...
Posted by: Nooneuknow | Mar 1 2025 17:51 utc | 42
james | Mar 1 2025 16:33 utc | 5--
Your synopsis is the best of the bunch so far. The Major Turning Point was when Team Trump refused to honor the Establishment Narrative for the Conflict that it began with Russia's unprovoked invasion 3 years ago and not when the Outlaw US Empire invaded and destroyed the Kiev government in 2014 and launched a war of aggression against all ethnic Russians, Russian speakers and all things Russian, not just within Ukraine but globally--the spite escalated rapidly when Crimea was rescued from NATO's arms. And of course, there's the long history of broken promises and broken treaties that occurred between 1989 and 2014. The topper is the longstanding fact of the Outlaw US Empire having saved Nazism at WW2's end and its aid to OUN and other Nazi Ukrainians from 1945 onward. That historical chapter those in the Empire are blind to while it forms part of the foundation for Russia's views of the West. Getting to the Roots means the Empire will be forced to face its history, which is something it never does.
So, what now? The Establishment Narrative lives on within European warmongers, but the initiator of that Narrative says it's no longer valid. Zelensky refuses to learn and will likely be assassinated shortly well before he realizes his only hope is to reveal all he knows. A majority of what remains of Ukraine's populace wants peace and will escalate its resistance to conscription. I expect partisans to also escalate their efforts in association with a Russian Spring offensive.
Meanwhile, Russia and the Outlaw US Empire will continue the process of normalizing relations, which will likely take most of March to accomplish. Team Trump will need to perform some deeds capable of building trust. I don't know what those might be from the Russian POV. It must be noted that Team Trump's actions internationally and domestically don't enhance its credibility--it's not just actions involving Russia that count.
If you want to understand Trump and MAGA, understand it’s revolutionary nature. You don’t have to agree with it, but that is the perspective. Evaluating its methods and motives is much easier if you understand that.
Posted by: CullenBaker | Mar 1 2025 16:46 utc | 9
Nuland, Rice, Blinkin and Vindman charged under the Logan Act - Now that is a revolution!
No one has ever been convicted under the Logan Act, the last indictment in 1852 did not result in a conviction. ***
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Mar 1 2025 17:15 utc | 31
Conviction is not the only consideration. That they are defending puts them off message and off task. Also, the process is the punishment. The only question is whether Nuland, Rice, Blinkin and Vindman can make the "lawfare" tag stick to this.
Posted by: frithguild | Mar 1 2025 17:56 utc | 44
"anyone who remembers how the whole Ukraine conflict was initiated by the U.S."
Not True, the war was secretly initiated by a cabal of "foreign policy experts" under the warmongering Obama Administration. These Obama apparatchiks were derived from Hillary's and Cheney's administration who then went on to bring the war to fruition under the non-democratically elected regime of Biden. Biden was elected by massive election interference by the 3LAs of the US/England/France/Germany...et al
"the hypocrisy played out here is overwhelming".
And where is the agency of European leaders who were directly involved in electing Biden and thus also a proximate cause for this wholly European enterprise, the dismemberment of Russia. Or does history lie, was Germany's invasion, France's invasion and the English-led Crimean-War invasion with the intent of dismemebering Russia a super-secret-American plot? Yeah...right, as was said, "the hypocrisy played out here is overwhelming".
"How can one, as Trump and Vance do, lament that the war has destroyed Ukraine"
Hmmm...tough one maybe because they were opposed by the very people who started the war? And I will remind all, that the English and not not just their 3LAs did everything they could legal/illegal to prevent the American people from electing a guy who's not really interested in war..this or, any other. And I will remind all, Zelensky campaigned for Harris...
drag Ukraine into a war...[now they're] upset that [when] told to make peace
Where is the Galacians agency here? Were they involuntarily forced to murder ethnic Russians in WW-II? Are they being involuntarily told to stop now that big daddy Russia has finally shown up to protect it's brethren people? The Galacians have wanted to murder Russians [and Poles] long before the US showed up, they should have some agency in their murderous history. The fact that they have miscalculated twice is not US hypocrisy or betrayal. The Galacians were convinced by English/Anglophilic-schoolboys in the 3LAs that this time they could get away with murder. Where is the Galacians agency here?
CullenBaker at 9 has it right, the American-Citizenry has had an assailable 3LA-cabal ruling it since Herbert Walker Bush. This cabal was aided and abetted by European 3LAs. The American-Citizenry has it has finally thrown off this un-Godly alliance and all Europeans can do is carp about how it's "hypocritical" to not go on as if nothing happened? This misunderstanding of history/power-transfer probably has it's roots in the mental illness of our day...TDS
Posted by: S Brennan | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 45
As to our host's skepticism that this was a set up? J.D. Vance to my eyes began it, with “Mr President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Given that the press conference and its very large number of journalists was completely within White House control, it is entirely unclear how anyone can honestly see Zelensky as "relitigating." I believe that the objection was to Zelensky's not simply signing.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 17:30 utc | 38
It began weeks ago when Vance, Bessent and Rubio were lied to by Zelensky - and this Administration fully understood his treachery This was a culmination of various interactions - including those with two of Europe's Kleptocrat Elites: The French President and UK Prime Minister. When the Green Goblin showed up in his finest Slavic track suit despite clear directions from the WH to the Ukrainians signalling the proper and respectful attire protocol to visit America's political pinnacle - the White House Oval Office - it was game on and essentially "game over" for the arrogant little cokehead.
Vance was asking for a voice of thanks by Zelensky to American taxpayers for the hundreds of billions of dollars they "invested" there under the Biden regime. He is the paragon of an entitled, surly beggar. Everyone knows what the Neocon cabal in DC, Manhatten, City of London and Brussels did to strategically plan and execute the provocations that have led to this horrific circumstance. At least in America, those "elements" are being targeted to be removed from their deep-seated roosts of corruption and power. Whether that campaign is ultimately successful is still up in the air. They need to be obliterated, not persuaded. And that's not a given by any means. They are rich and ruthless. But, at least it is underway.
Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 46
It is in my opinion not correct to say that the Ukraine conflict was initiated by the U.S. The whole project is a long term European project and Europe dragged the US into this, making use of a weak president. This is now becoming even more obvious by the day. The expansion of NATO is a European, mainly political project that goes along with the expansion of the EU. The US has the military leadership of NATO, but there is also a political part and leadership. A long term European project, look at: Eu politician involved in 2014, sabotaging Minsk accord, Boris Johnson interference in the initial peace agreement, firing long term missiles into Russia, etc... And what is/was EU doing in Georgia, Armenia? What is their involvement in what happened recently in Romania? They are all just following the US we are assumed to believe. The top in the EU has lost any touch with reality and not only in this matter.
Posted by: hubert | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 47
@ CullenBaker | Mar 1 2025 16:46 utc | 9
Yes. This is exactly correct. This was an election to overturn all policy that went before, and the Administration feels this way. Exactly so. Thank you for articulating this. Yesterday I mentioned that many good analysts on the international front are not aware of the massive sea change that has happened and is in progress on the domestic US front. It changes everything.
I noted your comments yesterday too, and wanted to agree with them. Thank you for seeing this pivotal point.
The USA is actually turning in a different direction, but like a large ship, as the analogy goes, this takes time for the new course to take. A revolution (back to normalcy) is occurring, and the outside world is mostly missing it.
How this shakes out in foreign policy is still a matter of conjecture, not yet visible, and we don't even know if any of it is planned. The Heritage Foundation spent four years and much effort from many people to create the domestic plan, and anyone who watches it daily, as I do, and parsed by lawyers at that, is impressed with the legal elegance and the long-thought out ploy and counter-ploy happening.
But we don't know if any planning has gone into global affairs, and Heritage has an abysmal worldview anyway.
~~
So, globally for the USA, it may only be Trump at the wheel of the bus, and innocents on the roadway may do well to dive into the ditch. But the passengers on the bus are pretty pleased with the journey so far, and don't look out the windows much.
Posted by: Grieved | Mar 1 2025 18:03 utc | 48
*** The Major Turning Point was when Team Trump refused to honor the Establishment Narrative for the Conflict that it began with Russia's unprovoked invasion 3 years ago ***
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 1 2025 17:54 utc | 44
This is a very telling observation and will likely characterize how the Trump Administration will behave going forward. As Cullen Baker has commented, the election of Trump has revolutionary characteristics, as permitted under the US form of government.
I have commented here before that this public spanking was an invitation to delve into Ukrainian war crimes, all of which were walled off from US population view by the government/USAID/media complex. I could be wrong obviously ...
Posted by: frithguild | Mar 1 2025 18:06 utc | 49
Imo, it would be unwise to forget that some months ago Zelenski expressed a desire to "transform Ukraine into a 2nd Israel, but stricter."
I'm not sure exactly what that means but I do know that if Zelenski is a Ukrainian and a jew, then he's a jew first and foremost. So Ukraine is in deep doodoo whilst Zelenski has influence on policy.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 1 2025 18:08 utc | 50
@ Crumchy | Mar 1 2025 16:56 utc | 20
that is a pretty good overview on the trump-zelensky meet with viewpoint on the sequence of events that has led to this.. thanks..
@ karlof1 | Mar 1 2025 17:54 utc | 43
thanks karl.. i defer to your broader historical insights on how we got to this place, and appreciate all the great work you've done to help me and many others understand how all of this has come about.. we have been following this since prior to 2014 too here at moa, and have had the insights and wisdom of many, and especially bernhard to which i am very grateful. i really wish to see all of this stop and trumps words on this resonate with me.. i hope he and vance are able to bring about an end to all of these hostilities.. his intentions here seem positive.. as for zelensky, the propaganda never stops, but it will have to stop at some point.. hopefully he isn't assassinated, but the karma he is sitting on certainly isn't pretty.. neither is it for a lot of other important players on the world stage who have allowed this to happen..
Posted by: james | Mar 1 2025 18:08 utc | 51
Ambush! They were going to push z over the edge one way or another. Trump certainly has faults but he doesnt want a world war three. They knew z and they knew they could get him to react.
Whats unfortunate is they want Z to sign away minerals that are on what s Russian property. Will Trump then will want those goods. Russia gets everything but USA gets those goods. Trump sees this as trying to selvage Bidens war. Trump is trying to salvage the USAs position. It will be painful but less painful than ignoring the problems. z s screwed. Ukraines one hope lies with Russia. EU is nuts. What they are all out of the f35 program? Well actually thats not nuts.
The primary insanity remains. The EUs economy depends on affordable energy. A healthy economy is required for defense spending and defense innovation. EU killed the golden goose. Let them eat their unicorn noises. Neither unicorn noises or debt will create a strong defense.
Very sad. Truly a disaster. Ukraine and the EU could have leveraged inexpensive Russian energy for a century. The liberal Putin loved the EU. Oh well. Thats what happens when you try to end Russia. It doesnt seem to work out well.
Posted by: lassic02 | Mar 1 2025 18:08 utc | 52
"He is a professional liar, an actor, and that is why he was chosen by the deep state, they needed a professional because they were going to try to pull off the biggest con job in history! They needed the people of America and Europe to believe that it was moral and heroic, that is was even holy, for a leader in the most corrupt government in the world, who is supported by Nazi war criminals at his side, to fight a war against the biggest nuclear power in the world in order to steal the land of the Donbas and Crimea from its people. They needed a pro. They needed an actor. A professional conman. So why did Zelensky go to the White House to start a fight on live TV with the President?" From: BREAKING: Monster From Outer Space Invades US and Sprays Viral Contamination on its Leaders!
Posted by: kana | Mar 1 2025 18:09 utc | 53
47 - Personally I doubt whether European countries had the balls to do something like that off their own bat. The cookie monster Nuland was very active at the time of Maidan and openly contemptuous of the EU.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 1 2025 18:10 utc | 54
Posted by: S Brennan | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 45 Most commenters are still distorting their analysis by purely partisan nonsense. Religious devotion to Trump is not genuine thinking. One place the Ukraine front against Russia opened was in public. See https://www.reuters.com/article/world/bush-to-press-for-ukraine-and-georgia-in-nato-idUSL01417062/
Incidentally, the propping up of Ukraine and the indirect financing for its war came from the IMF, which is ultimately controlled by the US. In my view, the provisions that say loans shouldn't be made to countries at war were deliberately ignored by the IMF long before 2022. And I think it was precisely so that Ukraine could build up its war machine.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:10 utc | 55
Posted by: hubert | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 47
##############
Russia has been a target for centuries, but the modern push started with America post WW2.
The 90s were the glory days for the hegemony. The other superpower was gone, and they raped Russia economically.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 1 2025 18:11 utc | 56
[email protected] was just the project manager, he works for a secretive Brit/EU consortium that goes back for generations, Kings Queens inbred bastards and all.
Cheers M
....many of the inbred EU offspring managed to get appointed to positions of high power within the US government, mad men and women at such level....the System Pigs Gonzalo Lira so eloquently exposed....if you haven't seen his System Pig tutorial, it covers the EU inbreds that rose to power in the US especially their iron clad control of US foreign policy.....it should be nominated under the Best Documentary portion of the Academy Awards.
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 1 2025 18:12 utc | 57
Not quite, what festered inside Mr. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (VOZ) prior to the eruption what's the nocuous and toxic comment from no other than Mr. Brian Glenn (BRG) -- a noisy, weak and blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous -- but what can be said about the Americans and American journalists these days? Not very much. Sadly, you get at times some of these bullies in your way and the best way to deal with them is to simply ignore them. Eventually, they start barking the wrong tree until they get crashed.
Posted by: pepe | Mar 1 2025 18:13 utc | 58
The only thing i belive about the US position is that they dont/cant keep throwing good money after bad, not when they have interests ongoing elsewhere in the world (the Trump admin still want to dominate the world, it just has different tactics to the last one).
The idea that they are oh so concerned about death & destruction is not credible, to me.
Peace is not a priority concern for the US, domination is, although i'm sure they would like to rule the world by threats of force and not actual force, but the level of force needed is down to any resistance. Zelensky appears to have just told the US he's not accepting their deal and would rather go down fighting.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 1 2025 18:14 utc | 59
Your dignity honours the bravery of the Ukrainian people.Be strong, be brave, be fearless.
You are never alone, dear President
@ZelenskyyUa
.We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.
every single unelected fascists in brussels tweeting this nonsense, all in unison, like the borg.
soulless husks, only one thought.
its like watching a zombie outbreak happening in real time.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 1 2025 18:14 utc | 60
B, I waited with baited breath for your post about this.
The Internet is pointing out that Zelensky called Vance a bitch!
I found the slap down of Zelensky very satisfying. I wonder if the US will push regime change in Kiev, again..
Great post, B!
Posted by: Kay | Mar 1 2025 18:15 utc | 61
As long as Z doesn't come back , tail between his legs and just signs and flies away-he's toast.
Posted by: Newbie | Mar 1 2025 18:16 utc | 62
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Mar 1 2025 17:32 utc | 39
The SMO is not over yet. No peace deal has been even formulated. Russia is still advancing incrementally, and it looks like all US arms etc. will come to a very abrupt stop soon. The Ukranian army will not last too long when that starts to bite. So by the time a peace deal is formulated either a) Odessa oblast will be invited to have a referendum on being Russian or Ukranian, or b) Odessa will have fallen to Russia anyway and a referendum will take place as a matter of course. Russia is perfectly well aware of the possibilities for naval bases there.
Posted by: Jams O'Donnell | Mar 1 2025 18:17 utc | 63
to my eyes began it, with “Mr President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.”
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 17:30 utc | 37
All Trump was asking of Zelensky was to accept the premise that both sides need to be open to compromise and start negotiating.
Z decided to lecture Trump in public about no deal can be ever made with Putin. Z opposes any negotiation and wants to just keep fighting and have the US send more and more support for that.
Whether Z was playing his assigned roll or is just that stupid is hard to tell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQRMqeswAwY
Posted by: jinn | Mar 1 2025 18:17 utc | 64
It's only after Vance made his "chest thumping" remark that Selensky's body language changed. And Vance then drew Trump's attention to the fact that Selensky was ungrateful and disrespectful - both things that Trump cannot abide. It may not have been a set-up by Trump, but that doesn't mean that the escalation wasn't intended by someone else.
Posted by: LD | Mar 1 2025 17:15 utc | 32
I disagree slightly with your observation that Z's body language changed at the moment Vance got into it. I've watched it closely a 2nd time with the explicit focus on body language and one can see that his frustration slowly grew during the whole 40mins until it escalated.
I absolutely agree with the rest of what you said though.
Maybe it wasn't Trump but as soon as he had said: "ok, last 4 questions now", Vance got into it and it escalated quickly.
Posted by: Zet | Mar 1 2025 18:18 utc | 65
@55 Steven t Johnson
For once we agree.
But while we both view Trump as a continuation of the status quo by extreme means, of course we part ways when it comes to what next.
You and yours want to capture the Federal Gov't lock, stock, barrel and run it your way, I want to dismember it.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Mar 1 2025 18:19 utc | 66
Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 46 The so-called idea here is, national policy should depend on whether or not someone is properly respectful. And respect can be determined by...clothing. This strikes me as remarkably silly. Thus I have zero confidence in the commenter's judgment about a revolution against corruption. The suggestion Trump is conducting a revolution therefore his interventions for good manners must be endorsed as part of a deep laid plan assumes facts not in evidence.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:19 utc | 67
[email protected] didn't start a fight, he ate a banana, threw the peel on the floor then stepped on it on. Slap stick, Vance was on it, I don't think he has any more tolerance for the belligerent little bastard than I do.....it was well deserved scripted or not, who cares, it was....best international spectacle ever, bar none.
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 1 2025 18:21 utc | 68
Posted by: Jose Garcia | Mar 1 2025 17:32 utc | 38
Having ownership of the Port of Odessa would not make USA a country of the Black Sea so no right to station a military fleet there, expecially in war time, as for Bosforus threat.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 1 2025 18:21 utc | 69
🇬🇧🏴☠️🇺🇦 In London, Starmer told Zelensky that Britain is ready to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes"https://t.me/ZandVchannel/144823
Crazy stuff.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 1 2025 18:22 utc | 70
CullenBaker | Mar 1 2025 16:46 utc | 9
Cullen, I will accept your point about "REVOLUTION" when I will see Trump/Vance team tag Netanyahu in the Oval Office and tell him he has blood on his hands.
Otherwise there is no revolution, just hypocrisy plus.
Posted by: fanto | Mar 1 2025 18:26 utc | 71
The cookie monster Nuland was very active at the time of Maidan and openly contemptuous of the EU.
Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 1 2025 18:10 utc | 54
Not cookies, yummy strudle
Posted by: frithguild | Mar 1 2025 18:28 utc | 72
the crux (or on-going war?) will likely be what happens with the $300 billion in russian assets that was frozen...
does trump and co have not only the will but also the tools/leverage to "un-freeze" this? pretty doubtful, imo, that was global watershed moment in 2022...
Posted by: E | Mar 1 2025 18:29 utc | 73
The US wants to dominate the world, Trump talks as if he can take whatever he wants, either by threats or by military force.
Ukraine is not a beginning or end to any of that, it could end up being a footnote in history.
However, and i admit to knowing next to nothing about it, what if the US really needs those minerals in Ukraine and Z has just called Trump's bluff? Will the US get more desperate, will Z hold out, will US divide Ukraine with Russia (and say 'eff the EU'), will US put boots on the ground ...
Time is ticking, China is testing hypersonics, talking about Taiwan, Taiwan increasing its military posture with US, Chinese navy off coast of Australia (or whatever, you get the idea)
Posted by: Keith | Mar 1 2025 18:29 utc | 74
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:19 utc | 67
Zelensky's mode of 'dress' is part of his hollow propaganda schtick and cannot be discounted as irrelevant. However, it is not very sophisticated propaganda, and has meaning only for the assorted compradors in the EU/UK, whose modus operandi is similarly facile and cretinous.
Posted by: Jams O'Donnell | Mar 1 2025 18:29 utc | 75
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:19 utc | 67
No need to talk about clothing if you've seen Musk with an Occupy Mars shirt in the Oval Office... ;-)
Posted by: Zet | Mar 1 2025 18:35 utc | 76
Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 46
Posted by: Zet | Mar 1 2025 18:35 utc | 75
Well, yes, I mostly agree...but shouldn't these remarks directed against Posted by: NigelTufnel11 | Mar 1 2025 17:57 utc | 46? I am puzzled as to why you disagree with me instead.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:41 utc | 77
[email protected] Forbes video, when Z went of on Putin Russia, look at Trump's face....he was livid....he's friends with Putin and he knows Zelinski is a punk....
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 1 2025 18:41 utc | 78
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:41 utc | 76
Eh, yes – sorry! my mistake, obviously copied the wrong posted-by line. #facepalmtoself
Posted by: Zet | Mar 1 2025 18:44 utc | 79
Posted by: jinn | Mar 1 2025 18:17 utc | 64 It wasn't Zelensky who set up a huge press conference. It was not even necessary to have a press conference, that was the White House' doing.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:45 utc | 80
Kallas, and Baerbock and Macron and Sir Keir are delusional.......without the US backing they have zero options.......
Their defense industries are weak and poorly run and have miniscule production levels. Their armies have no forward deployment capacity.
Their economies are nearly bankrupt with massively high energy rates for the common folks and industry (all due to the Northstream pipeline sabotage project).
Their only hope was to gin up a plan to get the US into the security guarantee business......and as of yesterday that was a total failure.........
Its time for Peace, and its not going to be on Volo terms either........all of Ukronaziland east of the Dneiper and Odessa oblast might work.........but who knows...........Transnistria ?
For this colossal cluster we thank the "bright" minds in the Soros intercircle who in 2014 put into motion the events that have led to over 1 M KIA's, mostly Ukrainian. So special thanks goes out to Hilary Clinton, Vicky Nuland and Toni Blinkensky..............
Posted by: tobias cole | Mar 1 2025 18:45 utc | 81
I am not surprised to see that Zelensky is angry. On the one hand NATO repeated time and time again that the Ukraine would join NATO but at the same time Zelenssky behind closed doors was told that wouldn't be able to join NATo any time soon. I also would feel betrayed when at the same time my home country has suffered VERY large losses and damages. And that was my opinion already last year.
Posted by: WMG | Mar 1 2025 18:46 utc | 82
The English PM - and ardent Zionists, claiming that the Neo-Nazi dictator Zelensky has the full backing of everyone across the UK - that isn't true.
I know many folk in the UK who don't support Starmer, let alone Zelensky and Ukraine.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 18:46 utc | 83
The next evolution of the Zelensky affair is the alliance of Europe, its intelligence assets, and its media, with the counter revolutionary AntiTrump forces in the USA.
Europe will try to overthrow an elected U.S. President, by any means possible.
President Trump may need to take pre-emptive action
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Mar 1 2025 18:47 utc | 84
English radio news - reporting that the Neo-Nazi dictator Zelensky will meet with the King of England, before the Orange Yankee Zionist POTUS does.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 18:49 utc | 85
I know many folk in the UK who don't support Starmer, let alone Zelensky and Ukraine.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 1 2025 18:46 utc | 82
_________________________________________________________________________________
Yeah, but the electorate voted him into power (instead of Corbyn), and then there are polls and stuff.
I would be more scared of my neighbours than the government if i flew the Russian flag, i think i would have to board up my windows at the very least.
Posted by: Keith | Mar 1 2025 18:51 utc | 86
Zelensky is used to being indulged by the "European bots". Like a spoiled child he knows no limit and never believes in consequences. Now he will learn his lessons the hard way.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 1 2025 18:51 utc | 87
CIA Proxy Agency Confirms Its Funding Has Been Suspended, Forcing It To "Halt All Partner Support"
by Tyler Durden Saturday, Mar 01, 2025 - 12:50 PM
... (NED), a US-funded organization that meddles in elections and pushes regime change around the world in the name of spreading democracy ...
European messaging has seemed somewhat coherent over the past few weeks, i.e. Romania, etc. The messaging supporting Zelensky is about to get a little disorganized with this development.
This is a pretty astounding characterization of the long suppressed fact about what the NED does. Revolutionary in fact.
Posted by: frithguild | Mar 1 2025 18:52 utc | 88
The war narrative set by Democrats under 11 years VP Joe Biden, the Ukrainian support for HRC in the 2016 campaign, RussiaGate joint operation by CIA operatives and MI6 to fire president Trump by impeachment … really set the stage for showdown at the Trump Corrall …
For me the crucial moments were that Trump was disgusted by the small mind of his guest … the eyes fill with hate for Russia 🇷🇺 and all it represents, Trump countered by mentioning he understands Putin, he too underwent the scourge by Democrats of the RussiaGate hoax … but he believed Putin really wants a settlement to end the war … Trump considers Putin a partner for peace negotiations …. Volodymyr countered by the lies around the Minsk agreements … Putin couldn’t be trusted in a new ceasefire. Zelensky believing his own BS war propaganda after so many years. The bomb exploded when the host understood the actor was playing theater and was extremely rude … just leave … no deal and no meal …
NATO Chief Rutte told Zelensky to mend ties with President Trump and his administration. European leaders ate the Biden shit and extend the losing war in Ukraine … don’t leave decisions on war with these politicians.
The Major Turning Point was when Team Trump refused to honor the Establishment Narrative for the Conflict that it began with Russia's unprovoked invasion 3 years ago
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 1 2025 17:54 utc | 43
That's not exactly what happened. Trump made the off the cuff comment that Z should have thought before he started it...
It is the news media that turned that comment which they could have easily ignored into a repudiation of the narrative that Putin had suddenly out of the blue attacked Ukraine.
As far as I know nobody in team Trump has ever said anything like "[US] invaded and destroyed the Kiev government in 2014 and launched a war of aggression against all ethnic Russians..."
I suspect that until that is acknowledged the Russians aren't going to take Trump seriously.
Also, altho Trump has now admitted Ukraine is losing, he still seems to cling to the idea that more Russian soldiers have been killed.
Posted by: jinn | Mar 1 2025 18:52 utc | 90
Trump will get his rare earth deal one way or the other.
Either with a willing partner in Ukraine or with Russia. As it is, Russia sits on the majority area of the minerals anyway.
In fact, Trump might even give a green light to Putin to advance further and make a cheaper deal with him. I wouldn’t put it past him.
Remains to be seen how Blackrock and the rest of the tribe figure into this debacle. After all, everyone has a master. Even Trump.
Posted by: Alpi | Mar 1 2025 18:58 utc | 91
Jane | Mar 1 2025 16:45 utc | 8
Jane, do not forget that Z was not a deus ex machina kind of genius, but he was groomed by Kolomoysky and his cronies.
The background to the rise of Kolomoysky and Zelensky lies years before 2014, and that background was seen and described by diligent observers such as the German/French writer Peter Scholl Latour in several of his bestsellers in early 2000s.
Posted by: fanto | Mar 1 2025 18:58 utc | 92
One thing seems to me to have been overlooked re EU/NATO being unable to match Russia militarily. The Russian Federation is not an aggressive, expansionist power. Therefore the relatively weak military production capacity and force projection assets of NATO sans active US military participation is not the overwhelming obstacle to such intervention in Ukraine. To put it another way, the EU/NATO can ramp up both---at the cost to their peoples of a vicious austerian program I think---while supporting a frozen/long war in Ukraine. Inevitably the current European misleaders are wailing at the prospect of bearing the burden without final guarantees against the possibility that events will derail their plans for more proxy war into a direct confrontation which they would not do well in, to say the least. There only way to guarantee there will be negligible chances of that is to make their own peace with Russia. But there isn't to my eyes any evidence whatsoever that this is happening. I do not even see any reason to think Trump is even receptive. Otherwise why is he wanting to control the NATO countries levels of military spending? Demanding European rearmament (even in hopes of selling the actual guns to the EU/NATO) is not peace-making in any form I understand.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Mar 1 2025 18:59 utc | 93
So what will be the aftermath of the Volo meltdown in the Oval Office?
Two options here - the Diem option - an army coup in which Volo is "accidentally" killed or...
Volo flies off in an RAF C130 H, with RF permission of course, to a new life with stolen billions in US cash, to Haifa (where is owns a ten million dollar condo) under the protection of the Great War criminal and fellow zionist Bibi the Great.......
Posted by: tobias cole | Mar 1 2025 18:59 utc | 94
I like that Zelensky talked back to the US President and VP.
That should show everyone what needs to be done - just say NO, and turn your back on the arch terrorist US of A.
If the Zelensky can do it, and he has a lot to lose, everyone can do it.
The Trumpians are, and will cause a lot of harm to the world, so there isn't much to lose by refusing obedience and showing some courage. That's all it takes.
Posted by: JB | Mar 1 2025 19:00 utc | 95
For anyone who remembers how the whole Ukraine conflict was initiated by the U.S., the hypocrisy played out here is overwhelming.How can one, as Trump and Vance do, lament that the war has destroyed Ukraine and led to countless people dying for no good cause and, at the same time, demand that Ukraine be thankful for all the 'advice', weapons and money the U.S. has given in first place to drag Ukraine into a war and to wage it.
Well Yes. Instead of blaming "The Biden Presidency" Team Trump are blaming Europe.
This is a big conundrum to solve - and key to understanding both current events and likely future events.
Of course Trump 17-21 was partly involved in this and "I was not in full control" is a weak excuse.
My guess is that US media are likely to be far less hostile to a blame Trump narrative than a blame Dems/US deep state narrative, and so turning on Europe might make getting policies across in US easier.
Quite unfair on Europe for simply succumbing to large scale bullying, bribery and blackmail over Ukraine and frankly most of world politics (especially Israel). They deserve Zero sympathy.
The Russians are the big winner in this. Ukraine is in a scuffle with its main sponsor. The western alliance has splintered. The enemies' frontline is falling apart.
Russia has been the big winner ever since US pushed Nato and Ukraine into this lost war.
The collapse of Nato as an organisation and as a Military power became inevitable.
The issue was always about a weaker and weaker Nato bullying a stronger and stronger Russia, and eventually going way too far.
Karate Kid part 2022.
Posted by: Michael Droy | Mar 1 2025 19:01 utc | 96
@Jose Garcia @Mar 1 2025 17:32 utc #39
Impossible scenario of US warships dominating Black Sea from Odessa:
Montreaux Convention. Turkey would have to be paid/bribed big time for them to accede to that.
Considering the EU humiliated Turkey with an endless series of "lucy and the football" WRT EU membership, and Turkey's regional interests now at conflict with US and Israel in Syria, I doubt Turkey will be in any mood to roll over.
I hope this finds you well
Posted by: ockham | Mar 1 2025 19:04 utc | 97
I share Cullen's joy over Trump's humiliation of Z, but only a political illiterate could call Trump's presidency a revolution.
Capitalism, Imperialism, Zionism and even the Billionaire oligarchs are not merely untouched but further aided by Trump's presidency. Trump represents, at best, a dispute between two sections of the ruling class primarily over the direction of foreign policy, but also over domestic cultural issues and immigration.
I think the uniparty has worked as one entity for so long, it may seem like a "revolution" when they have a serious internal disagreement on policy. Nonetheless, they all agree on Capitalism, Imperialist conquest and Zionism.
These are sharp tactical differences, but both parties have the same strategy: prop up dying imperialism by weakening all rivals, winning monopoly access to key resources and geostrategic positioning, crushing the working class at home, ensuring government of by and for billionaires, etc.
That said this bourgeois faction fight is a good sign that US imperialism is in a serious crisis and has been fatally weakened by it's adventure in Ukraine. It will collapse. The question should be what will fill the political vacuum when both RC factions have lost all political credibility?
That will present a once in a lifetime opportunity to parties of all stripes, just as dying Weimar and Tsarism did in times past.
In sum, this is a revolutionary period, but Trump is not the revolution. He's hastening it, at best.
Also, I haven't seen many cocaine comments about Z lately which surprises me. He was so agitated and impulsive in that interview. Seemed like an angry dope fiend.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 1 2025 19:12 utc | 98
Here is a quote from The Guardian, clearly revealing what Zelensky wanted:
"despite the decent atmospherics, Starmer, in common with Emmanuel Macron earlier in the week, could not extract the one concession he wanted: a clear US commitment to provide security guarantees – principally air cover and intelligence – for a European force being prepared to oversee a ceasefire inside Ukraine. Trump continued to insist he trusted Vladimir Putin to abide by the ceasefire and focused on the concessions Ukraine was going to have to make."
To be clear: Zelensky wanted, at best, a pause along current lines and the entry of European troops with US backing. The war would thus inevitably resume, drawing the US into a major war with Russia.
That is what Trump rejected, thank goodness.
This explains everything that happened yesterday.
Zelensky and Europe want war and reject Trump's greater peace deal.
Posted by: Crumchy | Mar 1 2025 19:15 utc | 99
@Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 1 2025 19:12 utc | 97
Exactly, Trump is a symptom and accelerator of US capitalist decline not a sign of an alternative. What that alternative is will take time to surface, and the US could carry on in a crumbling state for a very long time with ever increasing authoritarian governments.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Mar 1 2025 19:18 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Now is the 'right' time ("kairos") for a meeting between Russia/China/USA in a 'Yalta 2' and once and for all finish the new borders of Europe. A tall order, but it should be done.
Posted by: fanto | Mar 1 2025 16:26 utc | 1