Just reading about the collapse of the mineral deal as the press conference between Zelensky, and the Orange One and his eye-liner wearing weirdo side kick descended into a shouting match. (JD Vance is the sort of person I'd just want to smack in the mouth every time he opens it)
If the Gaza video demonstrated that Trump kind of sees his part in peace negotiations as a real estate opportunity as much as one where he can claim to be The Great Peacemaker, this re-enforces this conclusion.
Macron, Starmer and others have learnt some of the art of realpolitik and this pragmatic approach has therefore set themselves up to accusations of not calling Trump out as they seek to gain concessions under a blanket of flattery. Zelensky doesn't have that mindset so much. But then that is why Ukraine has managed to stand up to Putin for so long. Unfortunately, however, right is not might and he doesn't have many cards left which is why he was forced into considering the mineral deal in the first place.
Trump not only wants to be seen as a "strong" leader who wants something back in return for all the military aid the US has already supplied (even then, an exaggerated £ figure) to fulfil his promises to his braying MAGA supporters, but he also wants as much of any mineral deal as he can get. This avarice is more like war profiteering. Zelensky, unsurprisingly, didn't give in, particularly given that Trump gave no further promises around any kind of US "backstop".
Trump can claim the meeting didn't succeed because Zelensky was "disrespectful", "doesn't want peace" (not on your terms, Donald) or wasn't "grateful enough" but whilst this may play to the MAGA crowd, it won't do so to many of America's allies on the international stage. Nothing wrong in Trump managing to get Putin to the negotiating table, but it's his aims behind this that are becoming increasingly questionable. Some commentators have pointed out that Churchill (a bust of whom is seen on display in the room) would be rolling in his grave at such behaviour. I think that FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Johnston, JFK and many more post-war US Presidents would be joining him.
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Originally Posted by Omegstrat6
