Across the spectrum, media pundits have been criticizing Ukranian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for mishandling Donald Trump in their White House meeting:
Fareed Zakaria, CNN: “Zelensky did not handle himself well…He should have studied how President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer handled Trump; constant flattery and deference.”
Rachel Bade, Politico: “Zelensky seems to have forgotten the first rule in dealing with Trump: Flattery is the coin of the realm…”
Owen Matthews, The Spectator: “…Zelensky blundered into an on-camera debate with Vice President JD Vance before igniting Trump’s ire by disagreeing with him.”
Hugo Lowell, The Guardian: “First and foremost, Zelensky made the cardinal mistake of disagreeing with Trump and telling him that he was wrong. But when it comes to dealing with Trump the only formula for success is….flattery and abject agreement.”
Handle himself well? Forgotten? Blundered? Cardinal mistake? It is hard to believe that these so called analysts have any clue as to who Donald Trump is, what he is trying to accomplish, and the futility of just trying to placate him. Do these people really believe that by simply rolling over and behaving like a lap dog that Donald Trump would have any real interest and follow through in any meaningful way in defending Ukrainian security? Trump has made it clear for sometime that his focus is working and allying with Vladimir Putin to advance their joint interests.
Zelensky was correct in not following the leads of French President Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Starmer by meekly ceding to Trump’s imperial act. Where has that gotten them? Ultimately, the Ukranians and Europeans must recognize that placating Trump will not get them where they need to be. A new world poltical order is being created; an order where the United States no longer can be seen as a reliable defender of democratic or European interests. A world order where Europeans themselves have to take on the role of being the primary protectors and defenders of democracy on their continent. Playing Trump’s game merely delays the time when this will have to be recognized and accepted. Delaying the acknowledgement of this new reality only strengthens Putin’s position.
Zelensky has done the world a favor by simply being straightforward and honest with Trump rather than playing the game of feeding his ego, placating him, and allowing him to dominate. Sooner or later this had to be done. Pundits who believe otherwise are fooling themselves and doing a disservice to their audiences.
