"The stunning episode in Washington had capped a week of what turned out to be largely futile efforts by U.S. allies to paper over differences between Washington and Kyiv and to try to steer Trump away from his flirtations with Moscow.
"...All the while, Trump was focused on securing a financial stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals to recoup the tens of billions the U.S. has given to Kyiv to defend itself. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, wanted more than Washington’s vague promises that the U.S. would work to preserve its economic interest in Ukraine under the agreement and pushed for more concrete security guarantees....But when the Ukrainian leader raised alarm about trusting any promises from Putin to end the fighting, Vice President JD Vance rebuked him for airing disagreements with Trump in public. It instantly shifted the tenor of the conversation. Zelenskyy grew defensive, and Trump and his vice president blasted him as ungrateful and “disrespectful” and issued stark warnings about future American support."
"...After the Oval Office dustup, Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House by top Trump advisers — scrapping plans for a lunch, a joint press conference and the signing of the economic agreement, even as the Ukrainian leader and his aides pushed for a “reset” on the meeting."
This is the most shameful moment in American diplomacy that I remember in my lifetime. Of course I know that the US had flaws, but up until the second Trump term, I felt that we were a work in progress, two steps forward and one step backward, and that we would do the right thing when there was no other alternative. That was before the US under Trump made about 180 steps backward. For the first time I am ashamed to be an American. (And don't even get me started on Trump's pet pit bull, JD Vance).
Where do we go from here? I don't know, but sometimes a hard fall from grace teaches a lesson. All of our former allies have spoken in favor of Ukraine and against the Trump Putin alliance. As a nation we need to climb out of the gutter and go through rehab.
I pretty much gave up on America during the 2016 election. A flicker of hope with Biden. But now it’s probably terminal.
ReplyDeleteThere may be a case to be made that it is not in US interests to continue supporting Ukraine with arms and money, and that a diplomatic solution is the best way to achieve stability.
ReplyDeleteBut yesterday's display did not make that case in any way, shape, or form.
It did demonstrate that JD Vance is a twerpy little sycophant. And that Trump's "art of the deal" is to shout down and tag team foreign leaders into submission. I kept waiting for him to tell Zelenskyy, "You're fired!"
There was a less publicized exchange with PM Starmer this week. Starmer badly miscalculated the effect of his charm offensive by hauling out an invite from King Charles to a rare second state dinner. Trump asked, "what, you want me to read it NOW?" Then he held the letter by the corner like it was used toilet paper, and commented that the king's signature was "very nice." Starmer made matters worse by trying to tell Trump how honored he should feel, which just made Trump smirk and shrug. Clearly Starmer does not understand that Trump thinks there is only one king of any importance, and that's him. I was embarrassed for both of them.
I sort of expected Trump to advocate an isolationist foreign policy, turtle withdrawing into its shell. I didn't expect that he would wholeheartedly embrace America's historic foes.
DeleteReally? He loved up Russia and North Korea pretty good last time around.
DeleteAccording to The Guardian today:
Delete"Trump saw the minerals deal as the first phase of a broader economic partnership and told aides it showed the US was effectively making a commitment on security guarantees, because the agreement deal would mean the US had a vested interest in Ukraine’s economic prosperity."
That may be true, and maybe is a smart way to justify intervention in Ukraine to isolationist MAGAs. But it can also be construed as colonization and exploitation of a desperate people.
The report says Zelenskyy was told to just sit in his golden chair and make nice, and to thank the US for its support. But he popped off and screwed up the plan, prompting Vance to become enraged. (Then a reporter stirred the pot by demanding to know why Z didn't show proper respect for the president by wearing a suit. Nobody asked why Musk showed up at the Cabinet meeting in a tee and idiot ball cap but whatever.)
The meeting yesterday also raises judgment problems and begs the question: how wise is it for Trump to usher foreign leaders into his throne room and force them to publicly kowtow to American largesse and power when they're stressed, don't speak English very well, and he's called them names ("dictator") on X.
Bret Stephens wrote a column in the New York Times titled A Day of American Infamy in which he said, "Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s embattled democratic leader, came to Washington prepared to sign away anything he could offer President Trump except his nation’s freedom, security and common sense. For that, he was rewarded with a lecture on manners from the most mendacious vulgarian and ungracious host ever to inhabit the White House.”
ReplyDeleteIt seems more likely than not to me that American Democracy as we know it cannot survive four years with the mendacious vulgarian as president. I think the only hope is the courts, but I have little to no faith that SCOTUS, after inventing presidential immunity out of whole cloth, will do anything of significance to save the country.
People think impeachment is off the table for good, after it failed two attempts. However it isn't if Trump pisses off enough Republicans, especially it he hurts their bottom line. They'd have no problem getting the Democrats on board for that. But then we'd be stuck with Vance, and I'm not sure if that would be any better.
DeleteSCOTUS, Congress, Democrats, Republicans are useless. I think it will take filling the streets of the United States and a general strike. When things get bad, will the American sheeple stand up against their true enemies, the wealthy, or form a mutual firing squad?
DeleteMy two Dem senators are not responding to my letters. Raber's emails go unacknowledged, and their VM boxes are full.
DeleteSen. Slotkin is supposed to give a response to Trump's meeting with Congress on Tuesday. I doubt she'll agitate much. Michigan went for Trump. Our other senator says he's not running in 2026.
The GOP congressman is not responding to letters or emails. He has canceled town halls as "unproductive" and now has a crowd periodically forming outside his local office chanting "coward." Raber has been able to talk to his staff by phone, and they seem to be seriously listening to complaints about Musk. Republican legislators and some in the Cabinet may be able to get rid of or neuter him at some point.
I share David's pessimism about SCOTUS.
Overall, unless Congress or the courts curb the president's power to toss off EOs, to delegate powers to made-up entities like DOGE, put some teeth in court orders and rulings against the Prez, and prevent convicted felons from holding office, all this will keep happening no matter which party is in power.
Nebraska Republican member of Congress Don Bacon issued this statement yesterday: "A bad day for America's foreign policy. Ukraine wants independence, free markets, and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values.We should be clear that we stand for freedom."
DeleteBacon was formerly a Brigadier general in the Air Force.
I expect that Trump will try to intimidate him.
Happy St David's (Dewi Sant) Day. The Welsh can pack a church if you tell them there's a sing along and they can wear their daffodils. Fond memories of the St David's Day hymn sing at the Methodist Church many years ago with friend Dan Davis, who had a beautiful voice right to the end. Take a break from politics for a few minutes here: https://youtu.be/SkVT8O5E1rM?si=jfYvIS-LsprOH2vU
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean. Beautiful singing of the hymn Cwm Rhondda. The Welsh have given us so many beautiful hymns.
DeleteI used to wonder why King David of the Old Testament was the patron saint of Wales, until I looked up info on the Welsh David, sixth century bishop.
SNL put this sketch together at the last minute. Many appreciative comments from Ukrainians. Not a huge fan of SNL, but glad they gave voice to those of us disgusted by Trump:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/CUpOMSJ1MdU?si=AoFF_D839eArrBEp