Zelenskyy says he does not plan to meet with any Russians except Putin
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he does not plan to meet with any Russians other than their leader, Vladimir Putin. However, this will only happen after he and US President Donald Trump have prepared a general plan to end the war.
Great move.
It puts Putin in an uncomfortable position. Putin is scared, but they'll probably find a location. But when Putin, who largely relies on propaganda and orchestration, stands next to a strong, younger, self-confident leader, he'll look like a weak man; something he wants to avoid at all cost.
But more importantly, it defuses Russia's smokes and mirrors of sending whomever and talking whatever while pursuing only their own agenda without any intent of resolution.
I could be wrong, but I think it's pretty likely that Putin will refuse to meet with him. At the end of the day, Putin wants peace, but all that happens if he doesn't get it is more dead soldiers and more economic ruin, both of which he seems to be fine with. And, now that Trump is in office, time is on his side.
It's a good move by Zelensky, still: Show that he won't accept performative shows of him being "lesser than." He has nothing to gain by letting himself get pushed around. Of course, Trump isn't helping by going around squawking about stuff he wants to give away to Putin, but I honestly don't think anyone takes Trump seriously enough for that to be as big a crisis as it seems like it would be.
I think Tim Snyder's writing about "The Weak Strongman" also applies to Putin as it does to Trump (to a much lesser degree, Putin's certainly capable, he's just too criminal to be able to make his country capable).
I don't think I've ever been as impressed by any political figure as I have been by Zelenskiy. You never know who can make a great leader. A comedian? Why not.
I wanted to comment the same thing. How come a fucking nobody turned out to be everybody we need? Hes literally the european politician we needed.
You have to think on your feet and under pressure, you have to read people well, and you have to be able to get them on your side. It's honestly a pretty good skill set. It may not correspond with policy skills, for Zelenksy I have no idea, but in his case it corresponds with giving a shit and with courage. Just those things all together puts him leaps and bounds ahead of most politicians in any country.
I think "Servant of the People" is still on Netflix, and if you watch the first couple episodes you can see why it propelled them to put him in charge of the country.
At least the first season is on youtube, with subtitles.
And you never know who will make a great clown. A politician? Probably.
Joe Rogan for president?
Jon Steward plz
