Posted on 03/01/2025 6:01:45 AM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
[Hat tip to Freeper Beowulf9 for finding this]
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.
Excellent analysis.
My take: Zelensky was hoping for a closed door session where he could ask for money without cameras. Afterwards, he could say he got what he wanted from Trump without giving up anything. Instead, he got put on record which made him play tough guy. But he had nothing to offer us.
It will be interesting to see what happens when or if he gets home with nothing in his hand.
I said very nearly this to my mother last night.
I’m still reading it, but I came across Katie Hopkins take away and it is really good as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igeXjb1wB4Y
I thought I was watching an excellent remake of Rocky IV with Rocky kicking Drago’s butt. U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A.!
He’s right of course, but loose lips sink ships. Sometimes best to keep knowledge to oneself.
What a great analysis.
Fine....except he's not going to be making a deal with Trump, he's going to have to make a deal with Putin.
And "Z" is not going to get what Russia has acquired by the two referendums.
Guess "Z" never heard of....to the victor goes the spoils.
Zelensky doesn't believe he needs US help to continue the war against Russia.
As Pres. Trump said yesterday, Zelensky wants to "fight, fight, fight".
Zelensky thinks he can get enough help from the Euros to keep the war going, and that Ukraine can then outlast Russia in their war of attrition.
The US needs to be free from obligations to support Ukraine, and the freer, the better for Pres. Trump.
Yesterday's events eliminated all future US obligations to support Ukraine and freed up assets and focus for our most important issues -- 1) the US economy & financial situation and 2) internationally, the Indo-Pacific.
Imho, Yrmv
My lovely liberal wife watched the video and saw Zelenskyy as being ungrateful and argumentative. She saw Trump as being pro-peace and trying to avoid us being dragged into WWIII.
So I don’t think Trump needs to worry any about having lost any part of the argument. He’s right, of course. But there were essentially no optics that made him look bad.
No legitimate vote was ever taken in any Russian conquered territory.
Apparently Victoria Nuland (designer of Color Revolutions in Europe), Anthony Blinken, and Susan Rice called Zelenskyy to urge this political BS move. This has Obama strings all over. I guess that Obama doesn’t realize that he is yesterday’s fish wrap and no one gives damn anymore about his behind the scenes manipulation. Trump ain’t Biden, and he won’t dance to the Obama music.
Plus, Vance was just brilliant!
Respectfully disagree, their was no disclosure of anything not already public knowledge, just a strategic analysis that interestingly brought the mineral rights play into focus for everyone.
Agreed, Katie’s vids are excellent. She’s done awesome cartoons, where I first saw her work probably 3 years ago (on the vacccccccinnnnnnne.
I must admit, I never viewed the event this way. Really good read...
Well, it was all public knowledge, but the philosophy behind the actions were not necessarily well understood. I myself do not want to fully explain what I mean by that. Perhaps if you think about it some more you might figure out what my point is.
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