Ukraine News and Drama Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Questions Trump's Commitment to Europe

[Onion NullOnion Null is verified member.]

Ukrainian President is questioning Trump's commitment to Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called into question the Trump decision to focus on domestic issues as his first act in office suggested he would not be concerned with the future of Europe. U.S.′ commitment to its transatlantic allies, saying President Donald Trump’s decision to focus on domestic issues as his first act in office suggested he would not be concerned with the future of Europe. “Right now, all eyes are on Washington, but who’s actually watching Europe at the moment?” Zelenskyy asked the audience of business leaders and heads of state gathered in Davos, Switzerland, during his address on Tuesday.

Zelenskyy looked to appeal to European officials and business, warning that the region’s security was at risk, as Trump had shown where his priorities lie through his first executive orders, signed after his inauguration Monday. Pausing the TikTok ban instituted in the last days of the administration of his predecessor Joe Biden, declaring a national border emergency and a retreat from climate goals were among the orders that Trump inked in his first act as the 47th president of the United States. “Will President Trump even notice Europe? Does he see NATO as necessary, and will he respect EU institutions?” Zelenskyy asked, noting that global relationships are shifting, with Europe now concerned that the U.S. could and would abandon it at a time of need. Washington does not share this worry, Zelenskyy claimed. “Does anyone in the United States worry that Europe might abandon them some day, might stop being their ally? The answer is ‘no’,” he told delegates.

“Europe can’t afford to be second or third in line of [U.S.] allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe ... Europe needs to compete for the top spot in priorities, alliances and technological development.” The region must establish itself as a “strong, global player,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelenskyy’s presence and address offered Kyiv a key opportunity for Ukraine to push its case for its own peace proposals ahead of likely pressure from newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire deal with Russia. February will mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, and war fatigue is growing amid uncertainty over future aid for Ukraine that would allow it to continue to fight Russian advances in the south and east of the country. While Western allies have vowed to maintain military support for Kyiv, Trump has been far more ambivalent over the continuation of U.S. aid and previously boasted that he would end the war within 24 hours, if he became president.

Ukraine’s partners in Europe have voiced concerns that Kyiv could be pushed into an unjust peace deal with Moscow that would see it forced to relinquish territory currently occupied by Russia. Critics fear such an arrangement could allow Russia to regroup, re-arm and return at a later date to try to annex more territory. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy warned that Europe could find itself frozen out of any future peace negotiations over Ukraine, and that the U.S. could pursue the talks alone with Russia and China. “Right now, it’s not clear whether Europe will even have a seat at the table when the war against our country ends, and we see how much influence China has on Russia. We are deeply grateful to Europe for all the support it has given our country, but will President Trump listen to Europe or will he negotiate with Russia and China, without Europe?” he asked. President Trump has already mooted the possibility of a near-term meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he had cordial relations during his first term in office. By contrast, Trump has expressed more mixed feelings toward President Zelenskyy, calling him both “very honorable” and “the greatest salesman” in the past.

 

[JackrabbitJackrabbit is verified member.]

Oh no, the infinite money spigot got turned off for these ungrateful Ukrainian fucks.

 

[TheCIAGlowsInTheDark]

I don't give a shit about Ukraine, let Putin and Western Europe destroy each other in their hubris, it's none of our concern.

America should not be the world police every time some shitshow happens, especially when America is in trillions of dollars in debt. We've foot the bill for too long.

 

[JackrabbitJackrabbit is verified member.]

I don't give a shit about Ukraine, let Putin and Western Europe destroy each other in their hubris, it's none of our concern.

America should not be the world police every time some shitshow happens, especially when America is in trillions of dollars in debt. We've foot the bill for too long.

And the level of disrespect the Ukrainian president showed us in the oval office, FUCK HIM. First of all you don't mutter obscenities under your breath and shake your head no when people are talking about signing a peace deal. You don't try to spring sad little photos of dead people on the president in front of the media, and you don't act like an ungrateful CUNT when the vice president tells you to your face that you're being disrespectful.

Bro walked in to the oval office expecting a blank check, and he walked out with a fucking REALITY check.

And if... IF Trump is nice enough to pull out his meat and let him suck on it and apologize in front of the whole world so that the Russians don't pound his ass harder than Riley Reid, he'd better be wearing a suit the next time he shows up in the oval office. I don't know what kind of sloppy shop the Ukrainian government is running, but we show respect in the executive office here. They don't sell hot dogs at the White House, dress accordingly.

I think the funniest thing Trump can do with his second term is just ghost this dude and let Russia conquer his gay little country.

 

[TheCIAGlowsInTheDark]

And the level of disrespect the Ukrainian president showed us in the oval office, FUCK HIM. First of all you don't mutter obscenities under your breath and shake your head no when people are talking about signing a peace deal. You don't try to spring sad little photos of dead people on the president in front of the media, and you don't act like an ungrateful CUNT when the vice president tells you to your face that you're being disrespectful.

Bro walked in to the oval office expecting a blank check, and he walked out with a fucking REALITY check.

And if... IF Trump is nice enough to pull out his meat and let him suck on it and apologize in front of the whole world so that the Russians don't pound his ass harder than Riley Reid, he'd better be wearing a suit the next time he shows up in the oval office. I don't know what kind of sloppy shop the Ukrainian government is running, but we show respect in the executive office here. They don't sell hot dogs at the White House, dress accordingly.

I think the funniest thing Trump can do with his second term is just ghost this dude and let Russia conquer his gay little country.

Here is what I think is going to happen.

It's obvious that Trump and much of the GOP are going to throw shade at Ukraine, the free ride is over.

I'm also aware that much of Western Europe has formed an alliance to counter Russia and support Ukraine (I think France has given billions to Ukraine). The only problem is that Europe doesn't spend that much money on defense compared to America (not even close) and they've always heavily defended much on America for this. France has not been a superpower since Napoleon Bonaparte, Germany has not been a superpower since the end of World War 2, Spain has not been a superpower since the collapse of the Spanish Empire, the list goes on. Western Europe does not have the same spending capabilities for defense compared to America.

Russia is screwed too. Putin did the '20 Minutes Adventure' meme from Rick and Morty with Ukraine by thinking he was going to take Ukraine in less than a month only for the war to drag on for several years now and it has costed Russia a lot; they're running out of tanks, they're running out of able-bodied men that can fight in a war, and their economy is in the toilet. To make matters worse, Ukraine has successfully invaded Russian territory which further embarrasses Putin and his oligarchs.

So what do I think will happen after this? The smart thing to do is for Western Europe, Ukraine, and Russia sit down and put their egos aside by coming up with a deal that will satisfy everyone. If this war continues on any longer then Western Europe will be bankrupt, Ukraine will turn into the Somalia of Europe, and Russia's oligarchs may get so fed up with Putin that they may finally consider pushing Putin out the window while cleaning up Putin's mess.

The way I see it, Europe has two options.

Either Western Europe, Ukraine, and Russia form a deal that puts an end to the war and guarantees the safety of the European continent or they can continue the war and Europe (including Russia and Ukraine) simply collapses as the Western war machine and the Russian war machine inevitably depletes the resources and funds from both sides leaving both sides in complete ruin (this war will eventually bankrupt and cripple Western Europe, Ukraine, and Russia the longer the war goes on).