Trump’s Betrayal of Zelenskyy and Ukraine
And the shameful sycophancy of JD Vance
I try to deal with serious issues through satire.
Last night I sat down to write a satire about Trump and Vance’s bullying of Zelenskyy at their recent Oval Office meeting. I was going to call it “Hey you little bully, leave that big bully alone!”
Actually a steal of a Groucho Marx line.
The idea was to copy and paste the transcript of remarks from the clash and then rewrite them as an argument between three grade school kids about a bully named Pootie beating up Little Zeesky, who wants help from JayDee and Trumpee, two older kids who are expected to protect the smaller boys.
But it was just too fucking painful.
I was going to turn the rape and pillage of Ukraine into bullying in the bathroom, and Little Zeesky explaining to JayDee and Trumpee that talking to Pootie wasn’t going to work. Instead, they just had to stand in the doorway of the bathroom to keep Pootie’s friends out while Zeesky kicked his ass.
Yeah, I know. But it sounded like a good idea for satire at first.
As I read a transcript of Zelenskyy’s remarks and the shameful bullying by Vance and Trump, or should I say attempted bullying because Zelenskyy was having none of it, I could find no way to make it satiric. There was just no way to make it funny as a way of examining the painful truth.
The truth that Trump and Vance have no fucking understanding of the suffering endured by the Ukrainian people and the reality that the only thing that will stop Putin is the military defense of Ukraine.
Either that, or they are utterly incapable of feeling empathy.
Possibly both.
The Exchange
Let’s look at some of the exchange to show how our President and Vice-President shamed our nation and themselves.
Vance starts out trying to claim that all Joe Biden did about Ukraine was to engage in empty rhetoric. I guess Vance isn’t aware that Joe pulled together an historic partnership with our European allies to unite against Russian aggression and delivered over 100 billion in US military aid (less than the 300 billion claimed by Trump, but still substantial).
How much has the US given to Ukraine?
The point is Joe Biden did a lot more than talk.
You can read Vance’s words for yourself at the link. Below are some choice examples.
What they said: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance's heated argument in the Oval Office
Vance: “For four years, the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States’ words mattered more than the president of the United States’ actions.”
So, all Joe Biden did was thump his chest and shoot off his mouth?
I seem to remember tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, intelligence assistance, artillery and shells, and drones.
Putin’s Crimes
Zelenskyy then briefly reviewed Putin’s crimes going back years. Here is what he said.
Zelenskyy: “OK. So he (Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So he occupied it in 2014. So during a lot of years — I’m not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump. And God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people.”
Trump: “2015?”
Zelenskyy: “2014.”
Trump: “Oh, 2014? I was not here.”
Vance: “That’s exactly right.”
One wonders where the fuck Trump and Vance have been. Are they that ignorant that they were unaware of Putin’s aggression? Isn’t that kind of important info?
I know that Trump is a senile old fool, but I used to think Vance had some smarts. No morality, no principles, no backbone, but some brains. Now I am not so sure.
Anyway, here’s what Zelenskyy told them.
Zelenskyy: “Yes, but during 2014 ’til 2022, the situation is the same, that people have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations, my bilateral conversation. And we signed with him, me, like, you, president, in 2019, I signed with him the deal.”
Did you get that? Zelenskyy has already signed a deal with Putin. A deal that Putin has violated again and again. But still Vance and Trump want him to sign another and to believe that Putin will live up to it.
Zelenskyy continues.
Zelenskyy: “I signed with him, (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”
Of course Vance doesn’t like it when somebody stands up to him and Trump. They want obsequiousness, not honesty. They don’t want inconvenient facts. So Vance changes the subject to President Zelenskyy’s supposed lack of gratitude.
Vance: “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Zelenskyy will have none of it. Still he remains respectful, not asking Vance “What, motherfucker!? Have you got your head up your ass?” Instead, he asks a simple question.
Zelenskyy: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?”
Vance’s response?
Vance: “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President.
So Vance’s answer is not “Yes, I’ve been to your country and spoken to your people and seen your troops in the field.” It’s “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories…” And he then accuses the Ukrainians of using those stories on a PROPAGANDA TOUR.
HO-LEE-FUCK!
Childish petulance by our “leaders”
Vance pivots again to “What, don’t you see Trump’s pumpkin colored fat ass? Don’t you know enough to pucker up and smooch it?
Well, his exact words were as follows.
Vance: “And do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”
Zelenskyy actually tries to answer.
Zelenskyy: “A lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning.”
Vance: “Sure.”
Zelenskyy: “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless –”
NOW it’s time for Trump to blow up like a petulant child.
Trump: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
Gee-Zuss K…
Is that not fucking embarrassing for our nation?
“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
Again, I say Gee-Zuss K.
Zelenskyy tries to stay cool, which is more than I would have done. Or most of you.
Zelenskyy: “I’m not telling you. I am answering on these questions.”
How do Trump and Vance respond? Like the two highest elected officials in our land dealing with the biggest land war in Europe since WWII?
Don’t be stupid, of course not.
Trump: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that.”
Vance: “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”
Trump: “You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good. We are going to feel very good and very strong.”
It’s like they think the most important issue under discussion is whether the feelings of the US are hurt or whether Putin will later make us feel bad.
Zelenskyy tries to explain the obvious truth that a victoriously aggressive Russia will be able to put pressure on the US. Maybe Zelenskyy actual knows the history of WWII.
Zelenskyy: “I am telling you. You will feel influenced.”
From here is descends into an even more nonsensical land of delusion and pettiness, at least on the part of our two leaders.
Is it all just a game to Trump?
Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”
What fucking cards is this senile old fool talking about? The cards are tanks and long range missiles and drones and medical equipment. Cards he wants to take away from the Ukrainians.
Other cards would be a United States that at least publicly pretends to be willing to back the Ukrainians to the hilt so Putin will determine that his only way out is a real deal with real security guarantees by the US and NATO. Instead Trump presents a US that squabbles with our supposed ally.
Again, Zelenskyy will have none of it.
Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious.”
Trump: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”
Zelenskyy: “What are you speaking about?” (Diplomatic talk for “What the fuck are you talking about, you mush brained old Nazi?”)
Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”
Are you going to kiss my ass or not?
Now we’re back to “Why haven’t you kissed my ass? Everybody kisses my ass! Are you going to kiss my ass? Just watch JD, he’s showing you right now how to kiss my ass! Rubio, not so much. He’s sitting over there like he wants to disappear, but later on he’ll kiss my ass on X!”
And Vance continues with the butt smooching.
Vance: “Have you said thank you once?”
“Yes, I have you fucking hillbilly wannabe. Lots!” Zelenskyy replies. But more politely.
Zelenskyy: “A lot of times. Even today.”
Vance: “No, in this entire meeting. You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October.”
Zelenskyy: “No.”
Did he really campaign for Biden? Sort of, maybe. Zelenskyy went to a munitions plant in Pennsylvania to do something terrible! It was to do what Vance says Zelenskyy never did. Thank the US for it’s support.
Read about the visit here, but these are some of his words that day as posted on X.
“I began my visit to the United States by expressing my gratitude to all the employees at the plant and by reaching agreements to expand cooperation between Pennsylvania and our Zaporizhzhia. It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail. Thanks to people like these — in Ukraine, in America, and in all partner countries — who work tirelessly to ensure that life is protected.”
I say it again. Gee-Zuss K. The guy was in the fight of his life, of his nation’s life, and he needed to keep the weapons coming, so he goes to a munitions plant to say “thank you”. You’re going to fuck him over that?
But back to the Oval Office meeting.
Vance: “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”
In other words “You thanked Biden, but not us!” (Which is a questionable interpretation.) “We want a thank you, too!”
It got kind of testy.
If you have watched any video you have seen that voices were being raised, primarily by Trump and Vance. Zelenskyy responds to that.
Zelenskyy: “Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can –”
And Trump again get’s petulant.
Trump: “He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble.”
Zelenskyy: “Can I answer — ”
Trump: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.”
I spent a bit more that 29 years teaching Grade Eight. My kids were more mature in our class discussions than that. And I never rapped their knuckles with a ruler.
Trump: “You’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”
“Well maybe, you pumpkin colored old tit monkey, but not if you cut our legs out from under us by telling Russia we can’t join NATO and we have to give up land (you dumb fuck). If that’s what you think, then OK, maybe I have to go along, but don’t tell them that, you deranged old lecher. Tell ME that so I know what I’ll have to give up, but make the fucking Russians negotiate for it, you feeble minded old traitor.”
Zelenskyy didn’t actual say that. Too bad.
Zelenskyy: “Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we’ve been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks.”
Trump goes on to state the obvious.
Trump: “If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”
Yeah. Zelenskyy knows that. Which is why he went to Pennsylvania to say thanks and why he stood before Congress and said thanks. Thanks for military aid delivered by Biden, not you, you orangutan tinted venereal scab. Aid opposed by you and which Vance voted against.
Trump's VP pick Vance opposes US aid for Ukraine, intensifying fear for Kyiv's future
Vance, the guy who said “I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another,” in May.
But he wants Zelenskyy to thank him.
Gee-Zuss K.
Zelenskyy knows the reality of his dependence on aid. He knows how quickly they would have gone down without it.
Zelenskyy: “In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days.”
Of course, Vance can’t let his “you have to kiss our ass” thing go.
Vance: “Just say thank you.”
Zelenskyy: “I said a lot of times, thank you, to American people.”
A cease fire or a rest for Russia before gobbling up the rest?
Vance and Trump then press Zelenskyy to accept a cease fire.
Of course he wants a cease fire, you goose stepping dolts. But Zelenskyy wants one that won’t just be a rest and refit period for the Russian army so they can roll over the country once they’re ready.
Zelenskyy: “Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees.”
Trump: “Are you saying you don’t want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement.”
Zelenskyy: “Ask our people about a ceasefire, what they think.”
Trump: “That wasn’t with me. That was with a guy named Biden, who is not a smart person.”
Zelenskyy: “This is your president. It was your president.”
And of course Trump then has to ask to have his sad little ego massaged. He wants a bigger thank you than Biden or Obama got.
Trump: “Excuse me. That was with Obama, who gave you sheets, and I gave you Javelins. I gave you the Javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave Javelins. You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
You know Putin got to watch it all
Reporters were present for this display of petulance. Not a good choice, as explained in the little satire below which was written even before this sorry fuck party occurred.
Trump, Hegseth, and Rubio Play Poker With Putin
Anyway, Vance restates a reporter’s question: “She is asking what if Russia breaks the ceasefire.”
Trump: “What, if anything? What if the bomb drops on your head right now? OK, what if they broke it? I don’t know, they broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect Obama. They respect me. Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt … All I can say is this. He might have broken deals with Obama and Bush, and he might have broken them with Biden. He did, maybe. Maybe he did. I don’t know what happened, but he didn’t break them with me. He wants to make a deal. I don’t know if you can make a deal.”
So, Zelenskyy is supposed to bet the life of his country and the lives of his people on the idea that Putin, who has a history of breaking deals, will live up to a deal with a 78 year old man who probably won’t be around in ten years. And it was 11 years ago that Putin invaded Crimea. 2014.
Then Trump has to get insulting towards Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy. A guy who has stood toe to fucking toe with Putin and stopped him when nobody thought he could.
Gee-Juss K!
Trump: “The problem is I’ve empowered you (turning toward Zelenskyy) to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States.”
And, then the brilliant deal maker publicly cuts the legs out from under Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people by telling Zelenskyy in front of television cameras that Zelenskyy will be forced to make a deal.
Trump: But you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing.
How does Trump wind it up? As a guy who thinks it’s all about TV ratings because his sad little ego is so fragile.
“All right, I think we’ve seen enough. What do you think? This is going to be great television. I will say that.”
I know this became a rant
As indicated earlier, when I started to write this I tried to make it a satire.
But it’s just too fucking horrible.
Then I tried to make it a sober analysis.
I failed at that too because it’s just to fucking horrible.
I simply cannot write about Trump’s betrayal of an ally and of the very concept of democracy, nor about JD Vance’s sycophantic focus on trying to get Zelenskyy to kiss the ass of Trumpsky-Krasnov even while Zelenskyy knows that Trump is on Putin’s side not the side of the Ukrainian people.
I’ve been told that I need to try to wrap these things up with some suggestion for positive action, some possible solution.
But as long as Trump is President, I see none.
Unless our former European allies will step up and take our place as defenders of democracy in the modern world.
Because as long as Trump is president, we are on the other side.