LOS ANGELES (OC).–Begging President Donald Trump for more Patriot missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came out of the shadows to react to the latest Russian missile and drone striks that left 18 civilians dead across from Kiev to Odessa. Russian President Vladimr Putin capitalized on the fact that Trump finds himself mire in Iran War with both sides unable to agree on a framework for a long-term peace. Whatever the reason, it’s reminiscent of the Ukraine War where Putin qnd Zelensky also can’t agree on a formula for peace, leaving the war raging on in its fourth year. Zelensky wants Trump’s attention but he can’t get Trump focused on Ukraine anymorel, leaving the war in limbo. Trump spend years trying to convince Zelensky that it was in his best interests to settle the war rather than deal with the ongoing barrages that leaves Ukrane suffering more damage.
However much Trump is consumed with Iran, he’s given up on Ukraine, largely because Zelensky rejected all of Trump overtures for peace. Trump crafted a peace plan with careful attention to Putin’s minumm requirements for peace involving swapping land for peace. Putin worked form months with Trump’s chief peace envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to craft a reaslistic peace plan to end the Ukraine War. Zelensky ran to the European Uninon [EU] for funding where therer was considerable opposition for any peace deal that would surrender more Ukrainian sovereign land. In four years of war, Putin controls over 20% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory, controlling much to the Black Sea coast. Zelensky rejected any plan that would surrender more sovereign territory to Putin. So, when it comes to Trump, he’s given up on dealing with Zelensky.
Zelensky got into a bitter argument with Trump and Vice President J.D> Vance in the Oval Office, when Trump and Vance tried to get Zelensky to cut his losses, telling him he didn’t have the cards to dictate a lasting peace. Yet Zelenskyh pressed ahead with the EI where there was opposition to compromising with Putin, believing that it would encourage Putin to eventually take more territory in Europe. “Putin is a war criminal and loser wh has no cards except terror. Moscow is losing on te battlefield. No number of missiles can change this,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, using Trump’s “no cards” language against Putin. Trump told Zelensky long ago that everyday the war goes on Ukraine continues to loses infrastructure and gets more civilian casualties. Sybiga insults Putin at his own peril, knowing that Russia has time on its hands.
Zelensky pleaded with Trump to supply Ukraine with more antiballistic missile systems to defend itself and Europe. “Europe needs its own anti-ballistic defense so that this war can finally be brought to an end. And assistanc from the Uinited States in supply missiles for Patriol systems is absolutely necessary,” Zelensky said on X. Zelensky knows that if Trump went back to confronting Russia it would all but wreck U.S.-Russian relations. Trump has given Zelensky every out possible with his peace plan acknowledging that former President Joe Biden gave Zelensky over $300, only losing more sovereign land to Russia. So, when it comes to funding Zelensky’s war with Putin, Trump wants no part of a losing proposition, something that he worked to change. Zelensky rejected Trump peace efforts, accusing Trump of working to advance Moscow’s ambitions.
Zelensky wrote Trump and the U.S. Congress for more help with Patriot missiles. Pitting Trump against the once Biden-backed U.S. Congress, Zelensky hoped to put more pressure on trump to cought up more cash-and-arms. But Trump knows Zelensky’s game very well, calling the Ukrainian president the world greatest salesman. Zelensky walked away with over $300 billion in U.S. cash over four years of war without having anything to show for it. Zelensky opeates off a $108 billion loans to continue the war until the cash runs out in less than two years. When the money dries up, Zelensky will go back to the EU for more cash, something that might not be available. Instead of letting Trump negotiate a permanent settlement to the war, Zelensky prefers to keep up the fight, thinking that he’ll get more cash from the EU in the future. Trump sees the folly of his ways.
Zelensky can’t stop his redundant pitch for more cash-and-weapons to Trump and U.S. Congress, all because he refuses to settle the conflict. Trump gave him a face-saving way out with a realistic peace plan vetted with Putin, capable of a permanent settlement. Yet because of the cash Zelensky has at hand from the EU, he can keep up the fight, just like his Foreign Minister said, thinking he would eventually force Putin to give up. Trump has bigger fish to firy trying to end the Iran War in an equitable way to restore the world economy from the current blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump needs certain requirements met before he signs onto a 60-day extension to the current ceasefire. He needs Iran to agree to give up its nuclear ambitions to build an A-bomb.
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.
