I wasn’t fully convinced before that Putin has Trump in his pocket, but after that stunt, I am convinced that he is under Putin’s thumb. Trump and co. could have had marching orders from Putin to do exactly that. Also, this is something that Putin have done and would do, publicly humiliating someone on live TV.
Trump wants peace now, and to buy economic ties between the US and Ukraine. He feels that US involvement and attention alone will be enough to keep Putin from attacking again, and prefers a quick settlement so he can parade around a success.
Zelensky believes that this is not the groundwork for lasting peace, and that there has to be even more egg on Putin’s face from this war, to the point that he publicly regrets starting it. He wants Trump to condemn terrible actions by Putin, which Trump refuses to do because it will thwart any rapid peace deal.
I think each side thought the other would see things their way if they met, and that was never going to happen. Zelensky wants a victory because that is the only thing that will scare Russia away from trying again, and Trump wants a settlement because that will look the best for him, and be fastest. Without the same goals, they cannot see eye to eye.
What in Trump’s miserable life gave you the indication that he gives a sliver of fuck about peace?
Peace is the term they use meaning surrender to Russia to end the war.
He campaigned on it the first go round. His actions also during that presidency reflect it - remember he was the one that brokered the awful deal with the Taliban.
He cozies up to dictators because he doesn’t want to fight them and he abuses our allies because he knows they won’t fight the US, which he thinks gives him leverage.
Or as I’ve heard it, he speaks loudly and carries a little stick.
He says he wants it, and he would 100% parade it around, and say how great he is at negotiation. (“It’s unbelievable, they said I couldn’t do it, but…” etc)
He certainly wants to look like someone that makes peace deals, whether he cares about the real people being killed or not.
I do know that Trump wants to end the war in Ukraine quickly so that he can focus his attention to China. But televising the shouting match on live TV is ridiculous.
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