Posted on 02/14/2026 7:19:47 PM PST by Mariner
During a Friday appearance before the press on the White House lawn, President Donald Trump warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “is gonna have to get moving, otherwise he’s gonna miss a great opportunity” because “Russia wants to make a deal.”
Responding to a reporter who questioned whether the president will still “demand” that Zelensky “hold elections before summer,” Trump said, “Well, Zelensky is gonna have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal, and Zelensky’s gonna have to get moving, otherwise he’s gonna miss a great opportunity. He has to move.”
Late on Wednesday, Zelensky told reporters that he has no plans to announce the schedule for any upcoming presidential elections, despite pressure from the U.S. to do so, adding that the country will “move toward elections when all the relevant security guarantees are in place.”
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
And he apparently believes he'll get a better deal in the future. He's somewhat confident.
But it's hubris and the deal he is offered today is the best deal he's going to get.
The only deal that Putin wants is complete Ukrainian surrender. Unfortunately for him, he does not have the resources to force one.
“Unfortunately for him, he does not have the resources to force one.”
That depends entirely on how much leverage the US chooses to exercise with Ukraine.
Cut them off completely from US resources and they would collapse in weeks. Battlefield intelligence, targeting and sophisticated weapons are all US, even if Europe pays for some of the hardware.
Trump should have walked away a long time ago.
Just let them fight it out.
Trump has already cut all funding. Why should he cut off non-financial aid to had Ukraine over to the Russians? You are also underestimating Ukrainian resources. They have proved themselves to be very innovative, developing a range of sophisticated weapons. Today they are the leaders in drone warfare, which now accounts for the vast majority of battlefield casualties. And finally, you are underestimating Ukrainian resolve. They are fighting for their survival. They will not give up as easily as you think.
He has walked away. He has cut off all funding for Ukraine. As a result he has little influence.
Then Zelensky should go on another Offensive
and take his land back from Ruzzia.
All he has to do is prevent a Russian victory and make it too costly for them to continue. History is full of such examples.
“He has walked away. He has cut off all funding for Ukraine. As a result he has little influence.”
All battlefield intelligence, targeting and sophisticated weapons are US. Yet you say Trump has little influence.
That’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are.
This is not 2022. Ukraine is not as dependent on the US as you think. Would a US cutoff of these resources hurt Ukraine? Yes, but it would not cripple them.
Then why is it that President Trump can’t show up anywhere in Europe without Zelensky hovering around?
The deal probably includes European troops to assist the guarantee, which Russia will then refuse so if Ukraine accepts the current deal, Trump will then demand Ukraine agree to removing that stipulation making the whole "deal" transparently worthless.
The Ukrainians have no incentive to accept this deal. And many Europeans and Americans forget that Ukrainians, like Poles and the Baltics, have centuries of history enduring being ground down and fighting the Russians despite hopeless odds. They see this as just another episode to be endured and right now, given the casualties being inflicted on the Russians, not even that hopeless.
Not all battlefield intel: the Brits and French fly sigint aircraft and have their own satellites. Plus for targeting fat stationary targets like airfields, ammo dumps and refineries, you don’t need license plate level resolution: commercial satellite is good enough.
Because US aid would help immensely but Ukraine is no longer dependent on it. Again, Trump has cut off all aid and yet Ukraine fights on. After four years it should be abundantly clear that Russia does not have the resources to force a Ukrainian surrender. You need to drop your contempt for Ukraine.
Because Trump goes to meetings with European leaders, so it makes sense for Zelensky to go there also in general and particularly to make sure Trump isn’t pressuring the Europeans to abandon Ukraine.
Shoot, for large immobile targets, Google Earth is enough for targeting. Then commercial satellites can be used for damage assessment.
“Trump will then demand Ukraine agree to removing that stipulation making the whole “deal” transparently worthless”
Worthless to who?
Are you a natural born American? You speak as if you are Ukrainian and that’s where your loyalties lie.
US interest are: Detente with Russia and an end to the Ukrainian war. In that order. The fate of the Ukrainian state is not a consideration.
He has total influence, the weapons that Europe is sending and buying are for the vast majority made in the USA. Trump could stop that at anytime he wants.
Oddly Europe has weapons of equal of ours but neglected to make enough to even defend themselves least the Ukraine. Even worse, they do not have the industrial capacity to produce what is needed least a few years.
They really do produce fine weapons of war be it on the ground, air, or missiles. Least they have the capability to produce many it is of no importance. The bad guys would win. Oddly France and The United Kingdom's rather small nuclear forces are potent. A few hundred thermonuclear bombs would render Russia and China a no longer functioning society.
The UK weapons work though not tested. They are our designs and given to the UK. Ours were tested. France wisely built their own weapons and designs and tested them. They work.
And anyone who thinks the economic benefits touted by Putin will ever be enjoyed by the US or that Russia will pivot to the US against China is a fool.
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