Welp, ICYMI [in case you missed it] Trump just had a goddamned meltdown, hollering while he tried to shake down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Ukraine’s minerals like a bully trying to take a kid’s lunch money. Trump was hoping to declare FLAWLESS VICTORY and ART OF THE DEAL over Ukraine’s mineral rights, but tough shit! Zelenskyy left there without signing any deal, not even a face-saving Canada/Mexico kind of one, and apparently nothing was achieved other than Trump threatening to abandon Ukraine and looking like a dick idiot in front of the world. What else is new?

Here’s the full 45 minutes, if you want your eyeballs to melt into your brain. And here’s a transcript for HOLY SHIT.

Quick backstory, when Ukraine gave up the world’s third-largest collection of nuclear weapons in 1994, it was because Russia agreed to stay the fuck out of there and not engage in economic coercion, and the US, UK, and France agreed to come to Ukraine’s aid if Russia didn’t stick to that agreement. But in 2014, Putin declared the deal void, occupied Crimea, and Russian-backed separatist forces began fighting to take the Donbas in Ukraine, too. But the Russians were unsuccessful, and negotiated a ceasefire through the Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015. However, a Pooty promise is worth jack and shit, and Russia began that full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years and four days ago.

So today Zelenskyy met with Trump, flanked by pile of asshair JD Vance. Trump started off by being a demeaning asshole as soon as Zelenskyy stepped out of the car: “Oh look. He’s all dressed up today!” (He doesn’t seem to have minded when Elon Trump showed up to preside over his Cabinet meeting dressed in a “Tech Support” T-shirt and trucker cap.) It was all downhill from there.

A reporter asked Trump if he was too aligned with Putin. Because yeah, claiming that Russia did not invade Ukraine and that Zelenskyy is some kind of dictator sure sounds like Putin is attached to Trump’s brain like some kind of space slug, even if a few days later Trump denied he said it. (“Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that. Next question.”)

    • merde alors@sh.itjust.works
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      3 days ago

      it’s unpleasant to read this kind of discontent but we shouldn’t push it aside just because it’s disagreeable

      Gradually, however, he became disillusioned. The battle was furious. “The Russians would smash our positions to the ground,” he said. Senior Ukrainian commanders gave unrealistic orders. Then, while he was defending a ruined building, a panel fell on his shoulder. After receiving injections to reduce the pain, he was told to return to the front. “I realised I’m nobody. Just a number,” he said.

      The issue of desertion has made headlines in Ukraine. Last week the government launched an investigation into the 155th Mechanised Brigade. Fifty-six soldiers disappeared while training in France. Hundreds of others are said to be missing. The unit’s commander, Dmytro Riumshyn, was arrested. He faces 10 years in jail for failing to carry out his official duties and to report unauthorised absences.

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/31/tired-mood-changed-ukrainian-army-desertion-crisis

      For the past month, the 31-year-old photographer from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been holed up in his flat, rarely stepping outside, to avoid being conscripted into the army. “I want to leave the country. My mind can’t take being trapped here any more,” Dmytro said.

      Since the start of the war, thousands of Ukrainian men have illegally crossed the Ukrainian border to dodge conscription, despite a nationwide ban prohibiting men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving.

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/29/i-am-not-made-for-war-the-men-fleeing-ukraine-to-evade-conscription

      You can’t fight your way to peace’: from a 20-year-old Israeli to a 99-year-old Briton, eight conscientious objectors on why they refused to serve in the army

      OP, i feel your pain. This feeling of helplessness is not easy to deal with. When I watch that video I feel nothing but respect for Zelenskyy. The man, for the love of Ukraine, found in himself the force to thank those scumbags. What a shame for the whole humanity!

    • BobrA
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      3 days ago

      Removed by mod

          • Eldritch@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            Wow that is exceptionally more cringe and delusional than I was expecting. And my expectations of right-wing Libertarians. Being oxymorons in and of themselves is always very low. But you managed to surpass those low expectations and go lower.

      • CompostMaterial@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Is he trying to kill you or is he trying to prevent a mass exidious that would leave the country weak and defencless against a psychopathic dictator? When your country is at war, in a fight for its very survival, some sacrifices of personal liberties are expected.