TRUMP: Handled Zelenskyy well

On Friday, in the Oval Office, the world had the opportunity to see a genuinely unscripted conflict between two world leaders. I am so very proud of President Trump for caring enough to deal fairly and speak truly to that cosseted darling of Europe, Volodymir Zelenskyy.  

The Ukraine’s president has been successfully playing European leaders against the United States for years. Biden collaborated with this, against the U.S. national interest, devoting us unconditionally to support the Ukraine regardless of circumstances. Such unconditional, or blind, support is not wise either in terms of morality or realpolitik.

President Trump is insisting on genuine negotiations involving Russia which can actually bring about peace without defeat. Zelenskyy is gambling that the European Union can give him a better deal than Trump. This is a fool’s gamble.  

Today’s “frank and spirited” Oval Office meeting is evidence that the U.S. will require seriousness about the Ukraine losing the Donets river basin, the Crimea, and the northeast marches. The Ukraine will also likely not become a NATO member. The rare earths deal proposed by Trump gives the U.S. a stake in the ongoing independence of the Ukraine.

Either the Ukrainian leader has what it takes to recognize that he has not won an unwinnable war, and that his situation is not and never will be ideal, or he does not. His efforts to court the EU at U.S. expense will fail.

Conflict is never pretty. But conflict properly faced can lead to real resolution. Trump did well.

RALPH K. GINORIO

Coeur d’Alene