RUTHFULLY YOURS

Last Tuesday evening I had the delightful experience of watching Sean Spicer, Trump’s first press secretary in 2017, putting Andrew Bolt right about Trump and Ukraine, followed by the lovely Miranda Devine (the Aussie at the New York Post) doing a similar job on Sharri Markson. I just wonder whether Bolt and Markson do any homework. Did they view the whole press conference at the Oval Office? It seems not. Otherwise, they would not have arrived at the characterisation of the meeting which fed their prejudices.Did they know of the difficulties Trump’s emissary Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Marco Rubio had in separately in dealing with Zelensky in the lead up to him coming to Washington? Both were both given the brush off by Zelensky when trying to get the minerals deal done.

Did they know that Zelensky met with leading Democrats immediately before meeting Trump? What an extraordinary underhand meeting to have had. It seriously calls into question his judgement and frame of mind.

It was wonderful near the end of President Trump’s State of the Union Address when he figuratively waved the letter from Zelensky in which he offered to sign the minerals deal and participate in peace talks. What a quick turnabout almost immediately after the armament supplies were suspended.

Here is a brief selection of quotes which I read from various commentariat glitterati following the spat at the White House.

Staggeringly bad mannered Oval Office exchange – Mr Trump’s brazen bullying – Trump will pay historic price for his treachery – The US president’s meltdown – Ukraine’s shattered prospects following the disastrous White House showdown – Zelensky is a hero – Trump dumps Ukraine – King Donald betrays our alliance – the only winer from the unedifying spectacle was Vladimir Putin – berating Ukraine in front of the world – diplomatic car crash with far-reaching consequences – The blame for this lies with Trump who, along with his provocative Vice President Vance, scored a historic own goal – Zelensky…refuses to bow to Trump – JD Vance started the fight – Anthony Albanese distanced his government from Mr Trump’s position.

First, a digression. Albo should be careful on our nakedly defenceless behalf not to needlessly upset the US. That said, Alan Dupont (CEO of the geopolitical risk consultancy, The Cognoscenti Group) writing in The Australian sets out a plan B, lest the US proves unwilling to save our bacon. It involves, among other quixotic things, building up our “advanced manufacturing.” Presumably fuelled by renewable energy. Get to the lifeboats! The only Plan B is to offer the US what it needs militarily from us to get it to agree (in writing) to save our bacon in case of need. Plan C is to offer even more. Plan D is a mirage. 

Second, back to the point. In a triumph of hope over experience, I assume (wishfully) that all of those ever ready to pile onto Trump are now eating humble pie. Maybe he is cleverer and more astute than they are. A bleedingly obvious point to make. The TDS crowd are vacuous to a man and woman. Even little old wine drinker me is cleverer and more astute than they are. I mean did any of them actually see what a complete jerk Zelensky was in the Oval Office? Or did they see it and then distort it through the filter of their TDS? What exactly did Zelensky want? Seemingly, to refuse to enter into peace talks unless the US guaranteed Ukraine’s security and, in the meantime, to fight on endlessly with US-supplied weapons. There is delusional, then there is delusional.

In my view, Putin and Zelensky are both villainous. Putin’s villainy in disposing of political opponents is telling. Zelensky’s preparedness to endlessly sacrifice Ukrainian soldiers and plunge Europe into a wider war is something to behold. Speaking in London on Sunday, before reversing his position, he said: “Agreement to end the war is still very, very far away.” Notice the repetition of “very.” Totally dismissive of Trump’s goal to produce a quick end to the war, and totally at odds with reality on the ground.

To those with TDS and an intense loathing of the arch-fiend Putin, try to get over it. Putin is a rotter alright, but what has that to do with the price of eggs? Which, in this case, is dealing with two flawed leaders and yet still trying to forge a lasting peace: preventing death and destruction and, likely, the loss of much more if not all of Ukrainian territory. Western jingoists should don fatigues and join the Ukrainian army if they want to the fight to go on forever.

Trump has a plan. His plan starts with developing a close commercial relationship with Ukraine. This, he argues is part of ensuring Ukraine’s security. However, a ceasefire and subsequent negotiations with Russia will follow to understand what concessions can be extracted and what additional security guarantees can be put in place. Let the process play out, without throwing rotten eggs at Trump at every opportunity. His is the only game in town.