LOS ANGELES.–Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to placate 78-year-old President Donald Trump after he announced March 3 a suspension of all aid to Ukraine. Zelensky embarrassed himself in the Oval Office Feb. 28 arguing with Trump and 40-year-old Vice President J.D. Vance over security in any future peace deal with the Russian Federation. Zelensky wants the U.S. to provide security to Ukraine in the event a peace deal falls apart and Russia resumes its war with Ukraine. Trump said it was up to the European Union to figure out any security arrangements, not counting on the U.S. to provide a backstop. Zelensky has been asking for NATO membership for years, provoking 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin won’t accept NATO membership. Exchanging NATO security for U.S. security would be met with the same Kremlin objections.
Zelensky doesn’t accept that Ukraine must provide its own security by learning to get along with the Russian Federation, not compel the U.S. to step into the providing Ukrainian security because NATO cannot. How can Trump get a peace deal with Putin if Ukraine asks the U.S. to play NATO, provide a safety net for Ukrainian security? French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the French nation warning that Russian become a global menace, invading Ukraine is just one step removed from taking over other European countries. Macron argued that any peace sought to force Ukraine into compliance with territorial concessions would not be good for peace on the European Continent. Macron implied that 78-year-old Donald Trump was trying to impose a peace agreement on Ukraine. Macron insists that Trump’s recent suspension of aid to Ukraine puts the security burden on Europe.
Macron knows that Zelensky had a meltdown in the Oval Office with Trump and Vance, stirring up an unsightly fight over demands for Ukrainian security. “The war in Ukraine, which has resulted in nearly a million deaths and injuries, continues with the same intensity. Our allies, the United States, are supporting Ukraine less and are leaving doubts about what will happen next,” Macron said putting the onus on Trump. But Zelensky was the one who acted erratically on Feb. 28, prompting Trump to ask him to leave the White House. Since then, Zelensky has beat around the bush, reluctant to make a full apology for his atrocious behavior. Yet Macron makes it out like Trump upbraided Zelensky for no reason. Zelensky started telling Trump and Vance if he loses the war with Moscow, the U.S. would have hell to pay in the future for not supporting Ukraine.
Trump and Vance resented getting hit with the same worn-out talking points as Biden. Biden and Zelensky routinely told the U.S. Congress and EU parliament that if they ended the war Putin could make a play on other EU countries. “The world continues to be increasingly brutal, and the terrorist threat continues unabated,” Macron said. “Overall, our prosperity and security have become more uncertain and it must be said, we are entering a new era,” Macron said, urging EU countries to spend more on defense. “In the face of this dangerous world, remaining a spectator would be madness . . . we must continue to help Ukraine to resist and the path to peace cannot pass through the abandonment of Ukraine,” Macron said, serving notice that he disagrees strongly with Trump’s policy toward Ukraine. Macron knows that Trump seeks to reset normal U.S.-Russian diplomatic relations.
Since his brouhaha with Trump, Zelensky has been trying to reel Trump back in after suspending all military aid to Ukraine. “Ukraine is ready to come the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” Zelensky wrote on X. Judging by his overtly hostile statements toward Putin, it would be difficult to deal with the Russian leader. If Zelensky fought with Trump and Vance, can you imagine what he would do in a one-on-one meeting with Putin? Zelensky said he wants to come to the table but he has many demands for Putin and Trump. Macron is of the view that Trump and Putin would gang up on Zelensky to seek concessions from a peace deal. Macron thinks that any concessions to Ukraine would endanger European security by encouraging Putin take advantage of Ukraine. Zelensky wants Putin to remove all his forces from before any peace talks can get started. Putin would tell Zelensky his ideas for peace are a nonstarter.
No one knows whether Zelensky is trying to buy time after his disastrous Oval Office meeting with Trump. “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” Zelensky said on X. Zelensky’s statements say he’s willing to work with Trump to nail down a cease fire and peace deal. No one knows whether Zelensky is serious with it gets down to brass tacks where Ukraine must make concessions to push the peace process forward. Trump has a sense of Putin’s bottom line in any peace deal. Zelensky showed anxiety about the suspension in U.S. aid, trying to placate Trump to get it reinstated. Trump wants Zelensky to allow him to negotiate the best possible peace deal with Putin. However it turns out, Trump wants Zelensky to cut his losses and begin the long, costly process of rebuilding Ukraine.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
