Posted on 03/08/2025 10:21:54 AM PST by John Semmens
Before Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Trump last week he met with a bipartisan group of senators that included: Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn), Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) Chris Murphy (D-Conn) Peter Welch (D-Ver) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Chris Van Hollen (D-Md). As Sen. Murphy described the meeting, "President Zelensky left here persuaded that he should not accept a fake peace agreement where Putin gets everything he wants without any security arrangements for Ukraine."
Less than an hour later Zelensky was thrown out of his meeting with Trump empty-handed. He had no additional US military aid and no hope for peace. Zelensky later asserted that the "war would go on for a very very long time" and demanded that "since the US will no longer provide the funds to help us win the war, Europe must. An immediate down payment of $250 billion is urgently needed."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a "ReArm Europe plan which would allow European countries to spend up to $840 billion on defense in the coming years. This will help Member States to pool demand and to buy together. With this equipment, Member States can massively step up their support to Ukraine."
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered to "lead a coalition of the willing to enforce peace in Ukraine. I envision a 30,000-strong European force that would include boots on the ground and planes in the air to ensure that Russia doesn't breach a ceasefire."
French President Emmanuel Macron urged all Europeans to "prepare for war with Russia. We can use our nuclear weapons to deter Russian aggression. We must let the Russians know that Europe will not accept capitulation of Ukraine under the guise of 'peace negotiations.'"
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock gave an impassioned speech urging her countrymen "to prepare for war now. We cannot afford to wait until April for the formation of the incoming government under Chancellor Merz."
President Trump admitted "I'm surprised at Europe's newfound determination to provide for its own defense. This is something I tried to induce them to do during my first term. I am pleased they are finally taking on this responsibility. If they do go to war with Russia the Russians will probably stop selling them oil and gas. I hope they have alternate sources of supply. We have substantial supplies. Maybe they will consider buying from us."
In related news, it turns out that previous to his meeting with Trump, Zelensky had already signed an exclusive 100-year minerals deal with the UK. Zelensky defended his double-dealing, saying "we are fighting for our lives and our country. Churchill said he would make a deal with the devil if that was what was needed to defeat the Nazis. How can I be faulted for the lesser sin of merely selling the same asset to two different countries?"
There's something fundamentally wrong with this statement.
This is a bracing shot of reality.
How can I be faulted for the lesser sin of merely selling the same asset to two different countries?”
This would not surprise me
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