Posted on 03/04/2025 3:07:03 AM PST by RoosterRedux
The real tragedy following last week's meeting with Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy and Vice President Vance, is not just that the Oval Office quarrel derailed a peace effort that might have stopped the killing in the Ukraine-Russia war, but also that so many people are still working hard to keep the war from ending.
Why? Because they hate President Trump more than they love peace.
The good news is that the spat between Trump and Ukraine President Zelenskyy has brought European leaders to the table; their increased commitments to defense could bring a proposed peace deal closer.
That is not how Trump’s critics see it. They blame the president for the rupture, of course.
...
The irony is that the blowup in the Oval Office may accomplish a principal ambition of President Trump's: getting Europe to shoulder a greater share of the West’s defense. There has already been progress. NATO reports: "Over the past decade, European Allies and Canada have steadily increased their collective investment in defence – from 1.43% of their combined GDP in 2014, to 2.02% in 2024…" Recent pronouncements from EU heads of state and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggest that more spending is likely.
...
The proposal from President Trump, which entails the U.S. partnering with Ukraine to exploit that country’s minerals and rare earths, has been described by Treasury Secretary Bessent as an "elegant" solution.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Very wise words. Trump is a master. People forget that he is a Master of Negotiation.
The key is that he seeks no credit for making it happen and allows the stigma of false belligerence as astute camouflage.This is the catalyst of negotiation, and agreement,the parties think the have found it themselves.
Master class in deal making.
This is a bit misleading. In the UK, it is VANCE who is being blamed for the blowup last week, over infantile manufactured outrage.
The suit crap, and the ignoring of 95 previous thankyous including one in that same meeting.
Vance hasn’t exactly advanced his reputation overnight. All the British MSM this morning - including usually pro Trump right wing voices! - have exploded because Vance said on camera, the UK - “some random country” has not fought a war in 30-40 years.
“If you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine. That is a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Even if there’s some truth in this, that’s an appalling statement to make when the USA has been taking UK participation in its wars completely for granted for the last 35 years. JD doesn’t have the excuse that he may have misspoken due to English being his THIRD language.
The one positive outcome from last Friday’s Oval Office blow-up is that Zelensky handed Trump an opportunity to push for a better deal. Trump can now force Zelensky to take stock of who really holds the “cards” in this negotiation.
It isn’t Zelensky. And it isn’t Europe.
It was what folks down South call a “come to Jesus moment.”
On top of that, Zelensky’s blustering European supporters will have to stop and consider whether they have the capacity to back up their big talk—whether with money or boots on the ground.
Everyone involved is having to take a good long look in the mirror—and as they do, they will see that the U.S. is an elephant, and they are all chihuahuas.
Trump knows that every rough spot in a negotiation can be turned to a smart negotiator's advantage.
I'll bet Zelenskyy hasn't read The Art of the Deal. I'll bet he hasn't even read The Art of War.
this was a setup by the EU and dnc.
the uk, france, and germany, and the dnc want WW3.
they think it makes them $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
but it is more likely to make them radioactive
Agreed , my FRiend.
I agree. But their little setup exploded in their face and did not turn out the way they had hoped. That's because Trump and Vance saw the whole thing coming and were well prepared. Which is why the media shifted to "Trump set a trap! What a meanie!" It's just that Trump's setup worked better than their setup.
when successfully CAUGHT and EXPOSED,
the left goes bat-crazy and
into projection-mode, like here.
they blame their victims
for what THEY have EGREGIOUSLY DONE.
That’s a lot of one-way anti-Vance analysis.
The “suit” thing, and the growing sense that Zskyy is not appreciative, point up flaws in his basic mindset which most Americans who are paying attention to this situation, including (obviously) Vance, see as huge red flags.
They believe in PDJT. They trust that whatever he’s got cooking in terms of getting Ukraine and Russia on the path to peace, and they are not going to sit around while Zskyy, rather than stepping along the adult path, instead persists in indulging his inner adolescent (or is it a
raging cocaine habit?).
After his blunt speech in Munich Security Conference, for the Europeans JD Vance is Hitler reincarnated.
What he sain in the Oval Office was not much different: a blunt observation of the situation.
“ they will see that the U.S. is an elephant, and they are all chihuahuas.”
The regular standing army of UK is a mere 75000. That’s make 11 brigades or barely over 3 1/2 divisions.
If they DOUBLED the size of their army that’s 7 divisions. Some would have to be kept back for defense or in their territories. So what they might be able to send 4 divisions to Ukraine MAX? Plus they have hollowed out their industry How will they supply them in a prolonged war? More than like they can only supply 2 indefinitely…a guess.
Russia had 16 , many involved on constant fighting. We have 10 active now.
PS
Forget a lot of my conjecture, just asked AI and the estimate is the U.K. could realistically supply ONE division continuously in combat. ONE.
Vance knows that the UN-style “peacekeeping” model of boots-on-the-ground is only the appearance of security.
He also knows that true and lasting security arises out of healthy, vibrant society and civic life as exemplified by the best of western culture. Including economic times that bind.
You shouldn’t be so quick to join Europe in indicting Vance.
the uk, france, and germany, and the dnc want WW3...
The world is in a recession. And ever country benefited from USAID while that gravy train was running rampant. Now, They are trying to drag America into war thinking it will correct it. Plus then they can say “Trump started WWIII”. President Trump wont take the bait.
...economic ties that bind...
BTTT
I’m not. I admitted there’s truth in some of what Vance says. But he is needlessly insulting America’s allies.
For all I know, that was JD’s idea of a comedy roast. But it went down like a bucket of cold sick. So far this morning I’ve heard criticism from Nigel Farage, Nick Ferrari, Johnny Mercer, James Cartlidge and many others.
President Trump has argued that simply by having American workers in Ukraine would be enough to stop further encroachments by Russia. But what deterrent is there for Putin to avoid doing the same thing to American contractors in Ukraine, if USA insists it won’t respond?
he’s been consistent at asking Europe and the UK to pick up more of the tab for its own defense - and rightly so - but he is also expecting them to provide the backstop if Russia does attack territory hosting the no mineral operation.
Europe and the UK are now preparing to do all of that - without the USA - because that’s what Trump and Vance wanted.
So it is peculiar that Vance is insulting the UK when the UK is STILL doing what the USA clearly wants the UK to do!
“it is VANCE who is being blamed for the blowup last week, over infantile manufactured outrage.”
I took the time to watch the entire press conference from Friday. Zelensky was rude, argumentative, snide, contradictory for the entire time. Trump and Vance were very patient with him. More than he deserved. Zelensky interrupted, made faces, rolled his eyes, shook his head, and disagreed with the president. This is the part most saw: finally Vance had enough and put the punk in his place. At that point Zelensky got even worse and Trump gave him the business. Yet Zelensky still carried on with his rudeness. Zelensky owes apologies to Trump, Vance, and the American people
NFN but Vance is uniquely learning at Trump’s friend-cajoling knee!
I took Vance’s comment about the 20,000 troops differently. I assumed the UK would provide almost no troops at all, and that the bulk of the military force would come from some poor Eastern European country that uses their military as peacekeepers in exchange for desperately needed cash from the UN or NATO.
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