Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement Tuesday that his Oval Office meeting last week with US President Donald Trump “did not go the way it was supposed to,” describing it as regrettable and noting that Ukraine is ready to negotiate.
Realistically, Trump can’t bring about a ceasefire because the russians have no incentive for good faith negotiations. They can easily press demands that will never be accepted in Ukraine (no army, micro-management of internal laws, surrendering Ukrainian controlled parts of Kherson, Zaparozye, Donetsk). This means Trump needs to position Zelenskyy as the bad guy for internal audiences (many Americans cannot comprehend that the russians are acting in bad faith, or they simply don’t care).
The put down was always part of the plan.
Realistically, Trump can’t bring about a ceasefire because the russians have no incentive for good faith negotiations. They can easily press demands that will never be accepted in Ukraine (no army, micro-management of internal laws, surrendering Ukrainian controlled parts of Kherson, Zaparozye, Donetsk). This means Trump needs to position Zelenskyy as the bad guy for internal audiences (many Americans cannot comprehend that the russians are acting in bad faith, or they simply don’t care).
Putin has incentive to negotiate. He has drained the filthy Russians of men and matériel. Of course he wants to stop the war, to rearm and regroup.
Oh. Carry on.