LOS ANGELES.–Losing control of his rage toward 72-year-old Russian President Vladimir Putin, 47-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to explain in Feb. 28 meltdown in the Oval Office. “It’s not about [being] mad,” Zelensky told Fox New Brett Baier, trying to explain why he argued with 78-year-old President Donald Trump and 40-year-old Vice President J.D. Vance. Zelensky tried to explain how a structured meeting to sign a rare earth mineral deal morphed into a shouting match with Trump and Vance. “[When you hear] president, vice president or somebody or senators—doesn’t matter big politicians—when they, for example, say that Ukraine is almost destroyed, that our soldiers run away, that he y are not heroes, that Ukraine lost millions of civilians, that his president is a dictator . . .” Zelensky tried to explain why things headed south in the Oval Office.
Zelensky is right he isn’t “mad,” he’s enraged with Trump for seeking to develop normal diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. When 82-year-old former President Joe Biden was in office, Zelensky had three years of unconditional support with cash-and-arms flowing into Kiev’s coffers. Then, Trump came to office and rained on Zelensky’s parade, something he should have known would change the war with the Kremlin. Trump was 100% clear what direction he would take the war, promising on the campaign trail he would end the war in 24 hours. Zelensky should have been thrilled about Trump taking such an active role in peacemaking but instead prompted Zelensky’s rage reaction. “The reaction is that, where is our friendship between Ukraine and the United States?” Zelensky asked. Zelenksky conditioned his friendship to the U.S. and receiving unlimited arms-and-cash.
Zelensky had a nervous breakdown because of his rage toward Trump and Vance, not continuing the Biden blank check policy, giving Zelensky everything he asked for. When Zelensky asks what happened to the friendship with the United States, he’s talking about the U.S. giving him, like Biden, unlimited cash-and-arms to prosecute the war. Zelensky can’t fathom that if Putin does such horrible things to Ukraine, how could Trump possibly want to restore diplomatic relations with the Kremlin? Zelensky thinks Putin should be prosecuted at The Hague’s International Criminal Court for war crimes. He thinks Putin should remove every Russian soldier from Ukraine and pay the Kiev government war reparations. Zelensky takes no responsibility to opting Feb. 24, 2022 for war with the Kremlin, something bound to create widespread carnage and destruction in Ukraine.
Just the idea the Trump would put Russia over Ukraine prompted Zelensky’s rage reaction that he couldn’t control in Trump’s presence. Trump finally told him to get out of the Oval Office, telling the former TV sitcom start that he disrespected the United States. Trump and Vance tried to get through to Zelensky but his mind was shut like a vault. All Zelensky could see was his rage toward Trump for taking Russia’s side. Actually, Trump takes no side other that the side of peace, however that comes about. Zelensky and his friends in the EU have no plan for peace other that watching Trump move the conflict to the peace table. Zelensky’s rage toward Putin and Trump make him unfit to serve as a peace partner, too consumed with emotion to be productive in any peace talks. “I respect the president and I respect the American people,” Zelensky said after his outburst.
Zelensky says he respects Trump but he has a funny way of showing it, blowing up at friendly meeting designed to consummate a long-term business arrangement in Ukraine. Zelensky says he wants a lasting and fair peace but it has to be on his terms. Three years of war with the Kremlin have changed the facts on the ground, with Russian taking more sovereign territory by the day. Zelensky has no respect or confidence that Trump would get him the best possible deal in any peace arrangement. He thinks all he needs is more cash-and-weapons to continue battling the Kremlin. No military expert thinks Zelensky will do anything other than destroy Ukraine by continuing the war. Trump tried to tell him he has no leverage to get his peace demands met in any peace talks with Putin. Instead of putting his faith in Trump, he gets into a heated fight in the Oval Office.
Zelensky can’t control his temper in the Oval Office, all because he’s furious at Trump for reestablishing new diplomatic relations with Putin. Putin is Zelensky’s archenemy. So if Trump wants peace with his enemy, it means that Trump is also Zelensky’s enemy, as what came out with his unforgivable outburst in the Oval Office. Trump told him before kicking him out of the White House, to come back when he’s ready to make peace. Meeting in London today with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and nine EU countries, including NATO, Zelensky was told to mend fences with Trump. All EU leaders told him that only the U.S. can guarantee security in a post-War Ukraine. Trump would assure security through his strong diplomatic relations with Putin. Trump would not commit U.S. troops or the military to assuring security to Ukraine in any final peace settlement.
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.
