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Zelensky never wanted a war with Russia, won on a campaign of rapprochement with Russia, speaks better Russian than Ukrainian, had prewar business interests that extended into Russia and refused to believe Russia was going to invade until it pretty much happened (the CIA and MI6 tried to convince him months before he believed it). Then, after Ukraine’s surprising successes early on, it took Boris Johnson LARPing Churchill to persuade him into not signing the first reasonable deal Russia put on the table. This is all a matter of public record.
I think accusing Zelensky of being a warmonger seems therefore unreasonable. It seems very unlikely that a Russian-speaking PMC Jewish comedian and entertainment executive is some kind of hardcore blood and soil maximalist Azov Ukrainian ethnonationalist.
This was all true. But it's also hard to square that with the Zelensky of today asking for every weapon under the sun, wanting to make zero territorial concessions, and even "retake" Crimea which was only ever Ukraine's on paper. Like Trump, it's hard to tell if this guy got high on his own supply, or is merely bluffing to try to negotiate from a position of "strength". In which case, I don't much mind Trump bullshitting back. Zelensky wants to bullshit like they can push Russia back to 2014 borders? Fine, Trump can bullshit that he's 4% popular and started the war. If everyone is just making up bullshit, why not? The only one unhinged IMHO is the guy pissing off the state that has backstopped the defense of his nation. Maybe he's counting on the EU acting on their TDS and making up for this historic folly with material support that has thus far failed to materialize.
Either way I'd consider it a victory, so long as the US is disentangled from the whole enterprise. Although I'd be more happy with the war over so that the next Democrat in office doesn't just jump back in with both feet.
When did Zelensky ask for 'every weapon' under the sun? He clearly didn't, so what exactly do you mean? He is asking for what makes sense, the US and EU to assist in defeating or at least deterring Russia. If you ask me why that makes sense it would indicate a lack in your geopolitical knowledge and it would induce me to ask why you think you are capable of taking a position on this if you can't understand something as simple as that? Bullshitting and 'trolling' your ally and the person whose side you are supposed to represent in negotiations while supporting the other side's propaganda is the most insane thing you could say to support the lunatic's ramblings. Your last paragraph again indicates your lack of understanding of the greater picture. Would you be ok with Trump disentangling from NATO if the Russians decide to attempt to get a chunk of estonia? Because this is where this is heading when your own president is parroting enemy propaganda verbatim. I am sure you are also trying to explain away the guy's ramblings on Greenland and Canada. You guys elected a dummy that watches too much nonsense on twitter and you will say anything other than " oh shit we fucked up"..
As a European - yes. GTFO please. Europe should be able to defend yourself. And Russia is pathetic foe anyway.
Not sure I understand , are you European or are you referring to me being European? Whatever the case may be , Europe is not ready to defend itself and if we are abandoned by the Americans we will suffer very very badly in a war we might not even win. Forget our militaries , we are culturally unable to actually fight , and the Russian propaganda machine will have a field day destroying our democracies.
These sound like very serious problems. I would be in favor of trying to cooperate with Europe in trying to fix them, if Europe hadn't convinced me that they are implacably dedicated to the destruction of my society and my values. Given that they have done that, why should my tax dollars, the attention of my politicians, and the lives of my fellow countrymen go to propping up a system whose agents absolutely would see me persecuted by the full power of the state for exercising what I perceive to be core human rights of conscience and liberty?
We are able to fight, and we are not helpless in the face of foreign propaganda, or domestic propaganda for that matter. Maybe you should have done things differently somewhere along the line, if this is where your choices have led you? If you have nothing to offer Red Tribe but scorn, why should Red Tribe cooperate with you?
What are you talking about? Who wants the destruction of your society and your values? Do you spend too much time on reddit? Europeans would love to visit the US and shoot guns and shit , even the left-wingers . I believe that these statements you make come in direct contradiction to your statement ' we are not helpless in the face of foreign propaganda ' , the literal russian playbook is sowing discord , confusion and making us enemies and it seems to me that it's working, if not on you at least on a lot of MAGA Americans. The issues you have with the European left-wingers are the same issues European conservatives have with them , the same exact way I dislike the American left, so what exactly is the problem? If anything the problems are internal for each of us. I guess you can make the case that Europe is more left-leaning etc but so what? You want to give up on the entire continent over what exactly? The Danish fought in afghanistan for you and your dummy of a president just keeps on going at them and here you are speaking over tribes and value theories. In fact the whole Ukraine thing can certainly be blamed on you since you are the NATO member that decides on policy and now after setting the chess board you want to remove the queen and leave the pawns to get fucked?
In any case all of these morality talk is unnecessary. The US holds the role of global hegemon in part because of it's influence over Europe, alienating us and losing that is not only morally wrong but most certainly also bad geopolitics. That's the issue , your president making bad decisions one after the other and bowing down to Putin , not whether my feelings are hurt.
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