Trump and Vance argue with Zelensky live on tv

[claudiaswinklemen]

That has to be one of the scariest things I’ve ever watched.

Trump is giving pay back for some issue where Zelensky did not release info about Hunter Biden s goings on in Ukraine but I presume Biden was in power then. So Zelensky was stuck but also had other things on his mind - Putin was also accused of corruption or similar so Trump thinks he and Putin have this in common

I watched the Zelenskyy documentary and it was said that he doesn't wear a suit because he is the 'everyday Ukrainian'. Not above anyone, just right there beside them.

For those nasty men who clearly look down on the whole world, to not understand that and make it the focal point of their hostility was absolutely disgusting.

BBC say that question was a plant - the ‘journo’ has asked planted questions previously.

https://1997-2001.state.gov/regions/nis/fs-us_ukr_970618.html#:~:text=In%20January%201994%2C%20the%20U.S.,the%20Nuclear%20Non%2Dproliferation%20Treaty.

trump needs to make Zelensky look bad

Europe has contributed more than the US. For decades the US wanted to strut the globe, sort everyone out, be called the leader of the free world. Now it’s blaming everyone because people got used to that, without, frankly, liking it. Putin wants the minerals under occupied Ukraine as does Trump.

This all does great damage to the standing of the US throughout the world and it has been Trump’s stance consistently. It will be centuries before the US and Russia are trusted and the Chinese will take full advantage of that.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crew8y7pwd5o

It was beyond embarrassing for Americans.
How can a statesman, probably the most senior in the world speak in such base and offensive manner to another statesman is unbelievable.

Unprofessional doesn't really cut it....

You don't get out much then . Jeez

watched the Zelenskyy documentary and it was said that he doesn't wear a suit because he is the 'everyday Ukrainian'. Not above anyone, just right there beside them

Well let's not pretend that he's just like his fellow countrymen, he's a millionaire who dresses down to appear to be like them. In reality he isn't, he spends most of his time in other countries drumming up support to help fund weapons etc, he isn't suffering like many Ukrainians.

I'm not fan of Trump and he was despicable in that meeting but I also think that Zelenskyy is self serving and untrustworthy.

He dresses like this to make the point that his country is at war and has been at war for 3 years. They’re combat clothes. No one bothered how Elon Musk was dressed. Every fact check has found that Zelensky is not wealthy but people want to believe disparaging things about him, which speaks volumes about them.

This was a set up - Trump will now withdraw all aid and support immediately which is what he planned all along.

More than reparations. The US wants 50% of the minerals under occupied Ukraine.

Reminds me of Farage when he's a geezer down tu'pub in his cap and Barbour.

At the beginning of the war, leaders took on Zelenskyy's stubble style and polo necks, remember Macron? They felt it connected more with voters when the presented a sleeves up, honest work face. I like it personally, I hate suits and ties. The Orange man looks fecking awful in that horrid tie and loose trouser legs.

Regardless of my opinion or your opinion, it clearly was one of the talking points the Whitehouse deliberately planned to create a narrative of the disrespectful and ungrateful Ukrainian begging the States for more money.

The US military people always wear their uniforms in high profile meetings.

He is wealthier than other Ukrainians as he was a celebrity / comedian / actor before becoming president. Most of his money came from and continues to come from his stakes in a production company. He is no Rishi Sunak.

I was shocked at the behaviour of Trump and Vance. I agree that the war needs to come to a close, however they should be talking to the aggressor not victim

That’s as what immediately came to my mind.

for those saying the stats visit should be cancelled, I think the opposite. We know that the monarchy is trumps weakness. It’s the one thing he can’t ever buy his way into. He’s so blindsided by the proximity of royalty that it’s the leverage the UK, and Europe and Ukraine need.

KC will be able to schmooze him about Canada, and will be able to calm him down with his insane ramblings. Rather than cancel it, it needs to be urgently seen as a priority

Americans should be embarrassed at how their country is seen at the moment. Leaders of the free world no more. The country of Putin apologists.

@itsnotabouthepasta I too agree, the invitation looked like weird bum licking but I do think that between the lines it was designed to play him long term

I do think it would good if it goes ahead and Charles makes a speech saying exactly what are all thinking on the world media.

@hattie43 to reply to your earlier question in the other thread that became full, what has been achieved by three years of war.

Well, Ukraine has managed to stop Russia advancing to other European countries, which was a clearly expressed ambition of Putin before the war (see his speeches). The whole gig just turned out to be more challenging than what Russia expected, mainly because of foreign military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine has prevented Russia from taking over the largest wheat producing country in Europe (outside war times), with minerals significant enough for the US to be interested in. Ukraine prevented Russia’s full hegemony over Black Sea (which would have massively helped them build the best navy in the continent with the said minerals. Ukraine also stopped the largest army in Europe (Ukraine’s) falling into Russian hands to be used as a resource against others. You need to understand that the reason why Ukraine was selected as the first country to be invaded was to use their resources in further advances.

*largest after Russia

I watched the interview with Seth Moulton who made no bones about slating Trump and Vance. Seth is head of the armed forces and thank God speaks sense.
He described both Trump and Vance as puppets for Putin and backed Zelenskyy 100%.
I do not know how Zelenskyy kept his cool. Nobody would have blamed him for losing his cool with these 2 lunatics.
What a bloody mess these 2 freaks are leading the world into.
No doubt Putin is laughing like the devil.

Yep they were trying to wrong foot him and denigrate him for the thicko American viewers.

It seems all to have been preplanned.

I don't claim to know all that much about politics, or what's happening with this situation, but from the brief bits I've seen and all the comments since, it appears that Trump has shown his true colours and there is a lot of support for Zelensky.

If it's the case that and Trump needs to be stopped - who does that? What happens next?

100% this

All the talk of cancelling the visit is so short sighted

It’s far more in our national interest to keep him on side. It’s not about liking him, it’s about trying to stop relations from disintegrating.

Things are very precarious right now and diplomatic efforts are crucial.

We’re far better off being in a position to exert influence.