quote:

Originally posted by oddball:

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
The Collapse Of The Zelensky Cult
Once treated as untouchable, Zelensky is now exposed—his arrogance unchecked, his failures undeniable, and his usefulness to the West rapidly fading.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...llapse-zelensky-cult

Great article, thanks for posting.

That sheds light on things I did not know or keep up with.

Clearly, he is out of his league with PDJT. He overplayed his hand and now rejects the mineral rights deal. He is about to get smoked.

Some more background on how we got here:

Unmasking Comedian Zelensky's Deception and His True Role in the War on the Global Stage

When Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly became a global symbol of resistance.

Celebrated as a heroic leader standing up against a powerful foe, he appeared on television screens worldwide, calling for support and unity in the face of the Russian threat.

However, beneath this image of a brave wartime leader lies a far more complex and troubling reality.

Zelensky's rise to power and subsequent actions indicate that he is not merely the victim of an unjust invasion but a figurehead influenced by external forces.

As President Trump pointed out in his controversial remarks, the reality is that Zelensky's actions and alliances tell a different story — one that portrays him more as a puppet of the West than a true statesman.

Volodymyr Zelensky’s backstory is distinctive. Before entering politics, he was an actor and comedian, starring in the popular Ukrainian TV show "Servant of the People," where he played a high school teacher who unexpectedly became Ukraine's president.

Although it was a fictional premise, the show resonated with many Ukrainians, reflecting their dissatisfaction with the political establishment and their desire for change. What began as a clever satirical narrative soon transformed into a tragic reality: Zelensky, known for portraying the president on television, became the actual president of Ukraine.

Zelensky’s election in 2019 was fueled by his connection to the T.V. show and the "Servant of the People" political party.

Much like his acting career, this party was influenced by the media. While Zelensky presented himself as an outsider committed to reforming the corrupt political system, his ascent to power was not organic. His campaign was meticulously orchestrated by political consultants and Western interests, making his transition from comedian to president more about foreign influence than democratic choice.

Zelensky’s presidency is closely tied to the history of Western interference in Ukraine.

In 2014, after the removal of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, the United States played a crucial role in destabilizing Ukraine’s government. The infamous leaked conversation between U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, in which Nuland discussed who should form the new Ukrainian government, highlighted the extent of U.S. involvement.

Essentially, the West orchestrated a coup that ousted Yanukovych, whom they viewed as too neutral, especially concerning Ukraine’s relationships with the European Union.

This intervention ultimately established the groundwork for Zelensky’s rise to power. While his administration claims independence, U.S. foreign policy has significantly influenced Ukraine since 2014. As the leader of a pro-Western Ukraine, Zelensky is not simply a product of the popular vote, but also of strategic geopolitical maneuvering by powerful external actors.

One of the most striking contradictions of Zelensky’s presidency is his alliance with far-left groups in Ukraine, particularly the Azov Battalion. Despite being a Jewish president, Zelensky's government has relied on groups with neo-Nazi ties to combat Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

The Azov Battalion is notorious for its use of neo-Nazi symbols, such as the Wolfsangel and Sonnenrad, yet Zelensky's government has continued to collaborate with them. This alliance raises serious questions about his commitment to the democratic values he claims to uphold.

Zelensky’s connections to such groups represent a broader issue in Ukrainian politics: the merging of far-right extremism with governmental authority. While Zelensky presents himself as a champion of democracy, his associations with these groups reveal his administration’s corrupt and morally compromised nature. It is not surprising that Zelensky’s government has been labeled among the most corrupt in Europe, with links to neo-Nazi factions further eroding his credibility as a leader of the free world.

While Zelensky's image as a democratic leader has been central to his global appeal, his actions suggest otherwise. In November 2023, he announced the suspension of Ukraine’s elections, citing the ongoing war and Ukraine's constitution.

This decision, though framed as a necessary wartime measure, reveals a concerning trend of consolidating power.

According to Ukraine’s constitution, presidential and parliamentary elections are prohibited during martial law; nonetheless, Zelensky's five-year term expired in March 2024, and he has made it clear that he will not hold elections.

Zelensky's suppression of opposition voices further signals his authoritarian tendencies. He has shut down political parties that challenge his government, censored critical media outlets, and even threatened journalists with conscription. In one of the most tragic examples of his intolerance for dissent, Ukrainian journalist Gonzalo Lira, a Chilean-American who criticized Zelensky's handling of the war, was arrested, tortured, and ultimately died in custody in January 2024.

The Ukrainian government, under Zelensky’s leadership, has demonstrated a complete disregard for freedom of speech and human rights.

These actions evoke authoritarian regimes that suppress opposition and silence the press under the guise of national unity or security. Zelensky’s refusal to permit elections, coupled with his persecution of journalists and political opponents, portrays a leader more focused on retaining power than on upholding the democratic values he professes to support.

Zelensky's stance on NATO has also contributed to escalating the conflict with Russia. While NATO’s expansion eastward in defiance of promises made to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 has been a significant point of tension, Zelensky’s aspirations for Ukraine to join NATO have exacerbated the situation. NATO’s consistent encroachment on Russia's borders, coupled with Zelensky's insistence on aligning Ukraine with the West, has placed Ukraine in the crosshairs of Russian military aggression.

From Russia’s perspective, the desire for a neutral Ukraine is understandable.

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis showed the United States' willingness to verge on war to prevent Soviet missiles from being stationed just 90 miles from its shores.

However, Zelensky and Western leaders have overlooked Russia’s concerns about NATO’s expansion and the threat it poses to Russian security. Instead, Zelensky continues to advocate for closer ties with NATO, despite the risks to his country.

While many in the West have criticized those suggesting dialogue with Russia, President Trump has advocated for a more pragmatic approach. Trump’s understanding of Russia’s desire for a neutral Ukraine is a crucial perspective in the pursuit of peace. However, Zelensky has chosen to continue an endless war, perpetuating suffering and destruction while ignoring the possibility of a peaceful resolution.

Trump’s call for diplomacy with Russia isn't about siding with Putin, as many critics claim, but about finding a resolution to an unwinnable war. Zelensky’s refusal to negotiate, despite the rising toll of human life and destruction, underscores his role in prolonging the conflict. If the world hopes to see peace in Ukraine, Zelensky’s leadership must be reconsidered, and his war-driven agenda should be scrutinized.

The global narrative surrounding Zelensky as a hero fighting for democracy warrants examination. His rise as a television comedian, his connections to extremist groups, his authoritarian tendencies, and his role in prolonging the war all indicate a leader far removed from the idealized image presented in the media. Zelensky is not a man of the people; he is a product of geopolitical manipulation, a puppet utilized by the West to advance its interests.

The world must look beyond Zelensky's façade as a martyr and recognize him for what he truly represents: a leader swayed by external influences whose actions have contributed to ongoing conflict, suffering, and oppression. Achieving peace in Ukraine will require more than just the withdrawal of Russian forces; it will also necessitate Zelensky's removal and a reevaluation of the factors that have fueled this devastating war.

https://www.americanthinker.co...he_global_stage.html

UN Security Council adopts US resolution on Ukraine war after it failed to pass in the General Assembly

https://nypost.com/2025/02/24/...he-general-assembly/

The United Nations Security Council adopted a US-led resolution on Russia’s war against Ukraine Monday after it failed to pass earlier in the day in the body’s General Assembly.

“This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one – one of which we should all be proud,” Dorothy Shea, the interim US ambassador to the UN, said of the resolution.

“Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community,” she added.

The short, three-paragraph resolution takes a neutral position on the “Russia-Ukraine conflict.”

It calls for a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace while mourning the loss of life since the fighting broke out when Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago this month.

The resolution also reiterates that the UN’s purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes.

The security council adopted the resolution with 10 votes in favor and no nations opposed.

Five countries – France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia – abstained.

Russia, which backed the US in opposing the resolution passed by the General Assembly blaming Moscow for the war, voted in favor of the US-authored document in the Security Council.

“The UN Security Council vote to pass the U.S. resolution was a significant win for U.S. diplomacy and [President Trump’s] efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war,” the State Department wrote on X.

“This historic action sets the conditions for a path to peace and an end to the carnage,” the department added.

The State Department argued that the US resolution was “simple, historic” and confirmed “what everyone agrees on: that the conflict is awful, and that the United Nations must unite to end it and show that peace is possible.”

The US was one of 18 nations that voted against the Ukraine-drafted resolution in the General Assembly, joining Russia, Moscow’s close ally Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burundi, the Central African Republican, North Korea, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Israel, Mali, the Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Niger, Palau and Sudan.

Another 93 nations voted to approve the resolution, with 65 abstaining.

quote:

“This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one – one of which we should all be proud,” Dorothy Shea, the interim US ambassador to the UN

Interim? Where is Elise Stefanik?

NATO should have been disbanded when the Warsaw pact was dissolved.

Get US out of NATO & the UN.

European leaders promise greater defense, float Ukraine peacekeeping force in response to Trump

President Trump’s effort to secure a ceasefire and eventual peace in the Russia-Ukraine war is prompting Europe to promise to live up to its defense needs.

https://justthenews.com/world/..._campaign=newsletter

President Donald Trump’s pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and bilateral negotiations with Russia have spurred European leaders to offer promises to take charge of their own security and step up their defense commitments as they seek to keep the new administration engaged on the continent.

Last week, President Trump shocked many European leaders when he appeared to blame Ukraine for provoking the war with Russia and labeled President Zelensky a “dictator” amid tense negotiations over a proposed mineral deal the administration views as a way for Ukraine to pay the United States back for its assistance.

One of President Trump’s chief negotiators, U.S. Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, echoed these sentiments later, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper last weekend that the war was provoked, “and that doesn’t necessarily mean that it was provoked by the Russians” and suggested that talks with Ukraine to one day join the NATO alliance may have been responsible.

“That didn’t need to happen, it basically became a threat to the Russians,” Witkoff.

A larger role
Many European leaders reacted negatively to the Trump administration’s decision to meet with Russian negotiators last week in Saudi Arabia, warning that no lasting peace could be achieved by cutting the Europeans and Ukraine out of negotiations.

Others however tacked a different course. French President Emmanuel Macron, who traveled Washington, D.C. on Monday in an attempt to bridge the gap, is leading a European effort promising to take on a larger security role on the continent to convince the Americans to stay engaged in finding a lasting peace for the Russia-Ukraine war.

Macron visited the American capital on the heels of his own “emergency” European summit on how to end the three-year war in Ukraine. The meeting ended with no firm plans, but it helped forge a common message from European leaders. Macron brought assurances from the United States’ European allies that they are willing to do more to answer President Trump’s concerns, specifically about their own contribution to the continent’s defense.

Macron reassured President Trump that Europe, and specifically France, shares the ultimate goal of peace in the Russia-Ukraine war. He also reiterated his warning that security guarantees for Ukraine are necessary for a “solid” peace, one that would stop conflict from erupting again after any brief pause in fighting.

“I think our common objective…is to build peace and a solid and longstanding peace, and this is what we will discuss, obviously, because I have great respect for bravery and the resistance of Ukrainian people, and we do share the objective of peace, because we are very aware of the necessity to to have guarantees and solid peace in order to stabilize the situation,” Macron said after his meeting with Trump.

Macron also said, on behalf of the European leaders, that Europe is willing to “step up to be a stronger partner, to do more in defense and security for this continent,” which Trump has long demanded since his first term in office.

"indifferent to the fate of Europe"
Germany's Friedrich Merz who is slated to be the next chancellor following the country’s elections on Sunday, said that it might be time for Europe to seek “independence” from the United States on defense.

“After Donald Trump’s statements last week, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe,” Merz said in an interview, according to Politico. In the past, Merz has proposed a new defense alliance, separate from NATO, as U.S. engagement in Europe declines.

“We must prepare for the worst-case scenario,” he said. “One in which American engagement in European security significantly declines.” But Merz does not necessarily see this as an existential threat to Germany’s alliance with the United States.

In fact, Merz has floated several policies for Germany that may give Trump exactly what he wants: NATO allies that spend more on their own defense and take on a greater role in European security. For example, Merz has proposed a European security alliance separate from NATO that would take on issues vital to the continent’s security, but which are less important for the United States.

Merz made clear that he does not believe that any European efforts should replace the longstanding alliance with the United States, however, stating in an interview that he believes a strong stand by a united Europe could keep the United States engaged.

“Keeping our alliance with the U.S. intact is vital,” Merz said. “NATO is not just a military pact, it’s a political alliance built on shared values: democracy, open societies, and market economies. I sincerely hope we can continue to uphold these principles together.”

Italy
Italy’s leader Giorgia Meloni, a strong ideological ally of President Trump, invoked shared values in a virtual speech delivered directly to Trump’s core supporters gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference last weekend near Washington, D.C. in which she urged conservatives to continue supporting Ukraine and work to secure a long-lasting peace with the cooperation of Europe.

“You cannot defend your freedom if you lack the means or the courage to do so. Happiness depends on freedom and freedom depends on courage. We proved this when we stopped invasions, won our independences, and overthrew dictators,” Meloni said. “And we have done it together the last three years in Ukraine, where a proud people fight for their freedom against the brutal aggression.”

Meloni said that achieving a “a just and lasting peace” requires it being “built with the contribution of all,” emphasizing that peace cannot be achieved without European cooperation.

Her remarks also appeared to include a veiled warning to her ally, comparing a potential abandonment of Ukraine to President Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, from which his administration never fully recovered.

“And I know that with Donald Trump leading the United States we will never again see the disaster we saw in Afghanistan four years ago,” Meloni said.

Peacekeeping forces
France’s Macron and the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Kier Starmer reportedly have begun to develop a plan that would see 30,000 European peacekeepers deployed to Ukraine if a ceasefire is signed with Russia, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In his meeting with Macron, Trump said he approved of the idea, likely seeing it as a way to provide security guarantees that Ukraine seeks without using U.S. troops directly. Macron and Starmer, who is set to visit Washington himself on Thursday, both believe that a U.S. “backstop” would be necessary to protect European troops in Ukraine and to deter Russia from violating a potential ceasefire.

Trump gave no indication whether U.S. troops would be involved in the plan, but said he believed the European forces would be enough to secure the peace.

“And a lot of the European countries, I think I don't want to speak for France, but I know that the [French] president's talked about doing that also, I think that'll be a very good day when we can go in as peacekeepers, as opposed to what's going on right now with everybody being killed,” Trump said.

“And I don't think you're going to need much backing. I think that's not going to be a problem. Once an agreement is signed, Russia is going to get back to its business, and Ukraine and Europe are going to get back to their business. I don't think it's going to be a problem,” he said.

You're out of your depth, Jake. The good Representative from Tennessee just handed you your ass, son.

https://x.com/RepTimBurchett/s.../1895498598235930832

^^^ Burchett was brilliant schooling Tapper.

Zelenskyy Discusses Breakdown of White House Discussions – Nothing is Acceptable Unless USA Troops are Put Into Ukraine

Zelenskyy appears for an interview with Bret Baier to discuss the collapse of discussions today at the White House.

Again and again, Zelenskyy outlines his view of “security guarantees” which includes the baseline component of USA troops on the ground. Zelenskyy will not accept any negotiations or ceasefire arrangement without U.S. troops in Ukraine.

This same “security guarantee” demand (U.S. Troops in Ukraine) applies also to the minerals guarantee.
WATCH:



https://theconservativetreehou...ukraine/#more-269667

^^ Well, I guess Zelenskyy prefers war to peace then!

It's extremely tragic that Ukraine has lost an entire generation of military age males in this endeavor, and when provided an legitimate offramp by Trump, he chooses to stay the course in a conflict he simply cannot win!

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
Zelenskyy Discusses Breakdown of White House Discussions – Nothing is Acceptable Unless USA Troops are Put Into Ukraine

I highly doubt that's gonna happen. Not on Trump's watch.

So here's what's more likely to happen unless Ukraine, the EU, and the UK change their tunes:

• The US withdraws support for both Ukraine and NATO.

• The EU and UK attempt to prop-up Ukraine all on their own, bankrupting themselves and demonstrating to Russia what Russia already knows: That NATO is a paper tiger w/o the US.

• Russia prevails in Ukraine, then again starts setting its sights on the rest of Europe.

Here's the thing neither Zelenskyy, the EU, nor the UK seem to understand: Russia is little, if any threat to the US. China, OTOH, is a significant threat. Russia also understands that the US is little threat to Russia—outside its participation in NATO, whereas the EU, UK, and China are.

Not hard to do the math on this one: Geopolitically speaking: A strategic understanding, if not alliance, between the US and Russia could be beneficial to both, whereas Russia currently has few friends it hasn't bought and NATO has become a millstone about the US's neck.

True, the US has deep historical ties to Britain, but, if the UK keeps heading towards becoming either an authoritarian state anathematic to the American ethos or an Islamic Caliphate: That won't long obtain.

^^ That scenario would be quite the comeuppance for Ukraine and NATO should it come to fruition...And it's certainly not 'unpossible'!

quote:

So here's what's more likely to happen unless Ukraine, the EU, and the UK change their tunes:

• The US withdraws support for both Ukraine and NATO.

Yep. I doubt that we will withdraw completely from NATO, even if we should. Europe isn't what it was at the end of WWII. NATO is a relic of WWII, but we are clearly far too involved there. The United States Army has over 40 military installations in Germany, I don't think that's any longer good for us or for Germany. It's been 80 years since the end of WWII. They have to learn to stand and walk on their own.

Stating nothing is acceptable without the presence of US troops in Ukraine is proof Zelenskyy prefers war. He knows that’s a non-starter for Trump

Three years ago, we had people on this very forum calling for “boots on the ground.” I wonder how they feel about it now?

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...l-office-humiliation

With this, the United States should be making moves to withdraw from Europe. Let them pay for their own security.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
Stating nothing is acceptable without the presence of US troops in Ukraine is proof Zelenskyy prefers war. He knows that’s a non-starter for Trump

I don’t even know that’s correct. I think the ungrateful little shit prefers the money that comes with war. He’s corrupt at best, evil at worst.

Diplomatic schools will use this incident for decades to come as a case study in what not to do. Zelensky arrived late for his meeting with the president of the United States. He insisted on wearing his usual grubby gym attire. He dispensed with formal titles and addressed Vice President Vance as “J.D.” He folded his arms in exasperation, huffed and puffed, and vented grievances publicly. He even appeared to be a bit high (a breach of social etiquette that would not be at all surprising, given his reputed fondness for cocaine). In short, Zelensky behaved exactly the opposite of how any head of state should have in his situation.

All he had to do was dress appropriately, sign the deal, say thank you, and sit down to a nice lunch.