Posted on 03/01/2025 4:47:47 AM PST by V_TWIN
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied wrongdoing Friday night in his first public remarks since a major Oval Office argument with President Trump that upended talks to end his country’s war with Russia.
“I’m not sure that we did something bad,” Zelensky told Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier when asked if he owed Trump an apology — before saying moments later that “of course” the relationship between the men can be mended.”I respect the president and I respect the American people,” the 47-year-old leader said in the interview, without admitting fault for clashing with Trump and Vice President JD Vance earlier in the day.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
IMO all 3 of them came off looking rather childish and petty (He didn’t say thank you!). An argument like that should be done behind closed doors, not in public (although little Marco Rubio trying to disappear into the sofa was priceless). This and the Bondi snafu gives the leftist media weeks worth of talking points. Not good. I have no doubt that Zel will come crawling back hat in hand, he has no choice. A deal will be made and Trump will get many points for results, not style.
The parallels between Arafat and Zelensky are remarkable.
Personality wise they are very similar and they both intentionally engineer and prolong the suffering of the people they profess to represent as a way to further his personal agenda and the agendas of an international collection malign actors who are more than happy to see the Ukraine and it's people destroyed.
Key fact presented by president Trump.
To Zelensky. “You dont want a cease fire.”
Little MOFO couldnt shut his mouth and continued to interrupt the President while he was trying to make a point.
Trump will retaliate against that because such behavior cannot be allowed to stand.
Though Trump said publicly that a deal is still possible, he knows that Zelensky must not be part it. He proved he can't be trusted.
Think about it. Trump and team could spend a huge amount of time and money into structuring the infrastructure for this deal only to have Zelensky turn on them and demand more money.
You can't negotiate with an unreliable partner and Trump knows that better than anyone.
The little runt was all doped up and lying when he showed up. He met with democrats before this meeting.
I hope the Ukrainain people know that Booger Boy Zelensky didn’t even want a cease fire. He came asking for our troops and more money after telling Rubio he was coming to sign the deal.
https://x.com/amuse/status/1895559986291315150
I get angry at Steve Bannon at times but I believe he is right that Trump should not bother dealing with Zelensky and pull all US support and let the EU do the whole thing.
Its about time the right fights fire with fire. Putting on my “Trump Won Get Over It” bumper stick in upstate NY. Don’t care because I had to look at “Pedo Won Get Over It” bumper stickers for four long years.
Jesse Waters played this and said “Dude, you were thrown out of the White House before lunch. You definitely did something wrong”.
“Pull out of NATO, pull out of Europe and let them show just how great they are.”
We have military hospitals in Europe that support our troops if they are harmed in the field. That’s one thing we need to keep. Also, airbases which support our mission in the Middle East. Extricating ourselves from the European theatre is not as simple as “let’s get out of here.”
I know but I just don’t trust the guy.
Saw this on net:
“Benson Chit Chat
Michael McCune ·
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Many of you probably watched what took place between Donald Trump and Zelenskyy tonight. Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, you might be thinking to yourself, Oh my God, Donald Trump just screwed up.
However, as a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, strategy, and philosophy, let me explain the difference between what you believe you witnessed and what actually happened.
Donald Trump has been under constant political persecution since the beginning of his first term. Over time, he has learned to be patient and calculated.
Tonight, Zelenskyy was invited to the Oval Office. However, both Trump and JD Vance knew exactly what Zelenskyy was going to do—he would use this opportunity, in front of the American people, to make a power play. Both Trump and Vance anticipated this.
When Zelenskyy began appealing to the emotions of the American people, JD Vance stepped in, accusing him of disrespecting Donald Trump. This was brilliant strategy. It’s important to understand that Zelenskyy is trying to gain access to NATO.
Trump knew this but could not allow it to happen. If Ukraine joins NATO, the U.S. would be bound by NATO’s collective defense agreement—an attack on one is an attack on all.
Now consider the larger implications: Ukraine and Russia despise each other. If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, any future skirmish between them would obligate the U.S. to enter into direct conflict with Russia. This would mean World War III. And if that happened, China would have to choose a side—they would almost certainly align with Russia.
So what you witnessed tonight was a setup. Trump and JD Vance knew that the only way to achieve peace was to strategically align, at least on the surface, with Russia. Why? Because Russia would never sign a peace treaty if Ukraine were admitted into NATO.
This is why Trump dismantled Zelenskyy’s argument. And when Zelenskyy, seeing his play failing, tried to backtrack and offer a treaty, Trump refused.
Zelenskyy’s real intent was clear—he would not agree to peace unless security guarantees were in place. But what was he actually saying? That NATO must accept Ukraine. However, Russia would never agree to peace, knowing that NATO, their historical adversary, would surround them.
Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump all knew this. Zelenskyy, thinking he had Democrats’ support, believed he could make this bold move on live television. But Trump and Vance saw right through it and outmaneuvered him.
They knew that, in the short term, Democrats and the media would try to use this moment against them. But they also knew they had two years before midterms to prove their strategy was the right one. So they held their ground—brilliantly so.
Now, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to back down and accept Trump’s terms. But here’s the genius part—Trump is actually protecting Ukraine without dragging the U.S. into war.
By negotiating a mineral deal, Trump ensures that Americans will be involved in Ukraine’s mining industry. This prevents Russia from launching an invasion, because attacking Ukraine would mean endangering American lives—something that would force the U.S. to respond.
Trump played both sides like a master chess player. In the end, Zelenskyy will have no choice but to concede, because without U.S. support, Ukraine cannot win a prolonged war against Russia. And once U.S. companies have mining operations in Ukraine, Putin will be unable to attack without triggering massive international consequences.
Don’t underestimate Donald Trump. In this game of chess, he’s 10 moves ahead of everyone”.
Found it an interesting perspective. Possibly true.
They would have been wise to remain firm and explicit but magnanimous and self-controlled, especially inasmuch as they held all the power, and to insist on concessions, including a full account of the billions of dollars given to Ukraine by the Biden administration and any corrupt dealings associated therewith, whether by Ukrainians, Americans, or anyone else.
And we will need those after we pull out?
Pull out. Those blood sucking leeches have got enough for far to long.
BTW. There are far better places around the mid east for support bases.
Baier displayed a fundamental lack of understanding of the situation and of US participants involved by asking a stupidly phrased question. It was very clear that Trump and Vance did not want to be thanked personally, that Z should be grateful to the US for the abundant support. Same for an apology. Trump and Vance were not looking for a personal apology, they were looking for some remorse for Z’s lack of respect to the office and to the country.
Meanwhile, Vance was there to back up the President, who favors Putin and values strength and making deals, and basically opposes bloodshed, but seems to wrongly see Ukraine as the instigator more than the victim versus Putin.
In their positions, an immovable object meets an irresistible force.
I believe Zelinski screwed up even before he walked into the oval office. First, he got high-fives from all the senators, and he failed to let a translator translate everything for him. He put himself at a severe disadvantage and the negotiations at a severe disadvantage. When Trump said you have no cards to play he responded by saying we’re not playing cards. Missing the whole meaning of the term you have no cards to play.
Zelensky needs to go. Trump should tell him the US is out as long as he is leader of Ukraine. Tell the Europeans that too.
In the immortal words of gene wilders willy wonka...”you...lose! Good day, sir!”
I think Brett Beir did an excellent interview, as he let Zelensky show his arse.
Democrats are for America last. It’s why they lost. They cannot read the room, like Zelenskyy. See DOGE. None of that funding goes to Americans unless corrupt officials are taking a cut.
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