Ukraine’s Zelensky Forgets the First Rule of Crisis Management — If You’re in a Hole, Stop Digging

It appears that Trump’s goal in reviving relations with Russia has little to do with Ukraine and its future. As a result of Tuesday’s meeting in Saudi Arabia between the US and Russian delegations, there was agreement on forming six working groups that will address the following issues:

Group on Strategic Security and Arms Control. Arms control is one of the topics where dialogue between Moscow and Washington continues even in the crisis. The New START Treaty expires in 2026, and the United States is interested in extending it, but will try to impose new restrictions on Russian hypersonic weapons and tactical nuclear forces. Russia, in turn, will seek a revision of the balance of power, taking into account NATO’s non-expansion, and demand restrictions on the deployment of new missile systems in Europe.
Group on the Review of the Global Security Architecture.
The issues of global security architecture, delimitation of spheres of influence, including possible mechanisms for monitoring developments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and autonomous combat systems will be discussed separately. It is likely that this is the area where the contradictions will be most acute. Moreover, other significant powers, including China, will need to be involved in the process.
Group on bilateral diplomatic interaction.
Both sides are interested in the return of the embassies to full operation, within the framework of which mutual restrictions on the work of diplomatic missions will be lifted, and broad channels of communication will be established, including, in part, issues of economic ties.
Energy and Sanctions Group.
Russia is interested in lifting American sanctions, and the Americans will be offered some joint economic projects. However, the American side will try to link any concessions with demands concerning other areas, including Russian-Chinese relations, so a compromise will not be easy. Plus, Trump will be wary of accusations from hawks among the Republicans about the “excessive” easing of the sanctions regime.
Group for the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.
Within its framework, the parameters of a peace agreement on Ukraine will be agreed upon. There is already agreement on a number of issues. Ukraine is a non-aligned state, the EU will not be an actor influencing the negotiations, elections will be held in Ukraine and then a full-fledged agreement will be concluded, which will be adopted by the UN, there will be no NATO troops on the territory of Ukraine. Russia will also insist on retaining the liberated territories along the front line and guarantees for the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine. The full scope of the concessions that Washington is ready to make and their price are still unclear.
International Affairs Group (Middle East, Arctic).
The situation in the Middle East requires coordination of efforts by major players, including to prevent the Israeli-Palestinian truce from collapsing, to make a decision on the Syrian case, and others. Russia continues to actively interact with Turkey, Iran, and the Persian Gulf countries, which makes it an important participant in any negotiation processes in the region. Also on the agenda are issues of cooperation in the Arctic, where Russia maintains strategic superiority.

Ending the war in Ukraine is not necessarily a top priority. Trump’s team has made it clear that this is a problem for the Europeans and the Ukrainians to resolve if they are intent on continuing the war. Trump is looking at a bigger picture and keeping Zelensky happy is not part of that vision.

I discussed this today with Danny Davis:
Feb 19, 2025
The presentation discusses Donald Trump’s perspective on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, emphasizing that the war was unwinnable for Ukraine and could have been prevented. Trump critiques European financial aid to Ukraine, arguing that much of it consists of loans rather than direct support, while the U.S. has borne the bulk of the financial and military burden. The speakers argue that Zelensky’s public opposition to Trump is strategically unwise, especially as the U.S. is reportedly beginning to disengage from Ukraine. The discussion shifts to Putin’s willingness to negotiate, highlighting past instances where Russia sought diplomatic solutions, only to be rebuffed by the West. It is noted that Ukraine legally prohibited negotiations with Russia, further complicating peace efforts. The presentation suggests that the U.S. and European leaders have ignored ground realities in Ukraine, pursuing policies that harm Ukraine more than Russia. A potential Trump-Putin meeting is framed as a major geopolitical event, not just about Ukraine but about reshaping global security and diplomatic relations. Plans for six subgroups to negotiate arms control, global security, diplomacy, energy, Ukraine, and broader international affairs are mentioned, indicating that Trump’s engagement with Russia is part of a larger strategic realignment rather than solely about ending the Ukraine war. The speakers conclude that Russia is gaining ground militarily while Ukraine’s defense capabilities are weakening, suggesting an inevitable shift in the conflict’s outcome.[/su_spoiler]

Selected commentary
Reply to Wolf69

Few people really understand the level of politics playing out right now. I watched an interview with Gilbert Doctorow by Nima who I consider to be one of the smartest people when it comes to dissecting politics. In this interview he explains a lot of things that most of us really do not understand about what is happening, and the way Trump sets traps for his opponents. Trump has now apparently set up Zelensky, and Zelensky stepped right into the trap.

Just as the radical left (sic) fears investigation into the corruption uncovered by DOGE, they also fear investigation into the corruption behind the Ukraine War. Both issues have the potential to explode and destroy the radical left, and the globalist agenda. [Editor’s Note: Sorry, chum. You need a new compass. The “radical left” is nowhere to be found in the West, especially the US, where Centrist/Corporatist/Imperialists, or “liberal authoritarians”, if you like, most of them found in the Democratic party and among their numerous flunkies, are wrongheadedly called “radical left” or similar idiotic labels, like Marxists,”, or Communists. Rightwingers destroy their own ability to grasp reality by not understanding the basic meaning of such political labels. And, by the way, the historical role of the liberals is to obstruct and destroy the real left.—PG]

The average American has far too little attention span or interest to really understand most of what happens in politics or world affairs, so, the criminals in government are given a free hand to run amok without the average voter ever catching on. Trump is making things like government corruption and foreign wars interesting by injecting drama. He understands entertainment, and what it takes to get people interested. This is the last thing in the world that the traitors who have been exploiting the American taxpayers want. Government is incompetent, lazy, and stupid, and they have done a very poor job of covering up their crimes. The problem is not exposing their crimes, the real issue is getting the American public interested. That is Trump’s genius.

Jdog

Reply to VFucci

3 hours ago — If you think Jews cannot be Nazi’s then you really need to study the role of Zionists in the creation of the internment camps and the Holocaust.

Honzo
Reply to VFucci
6 hours ago / Zelensky’s boss and creator was the Jew [Igor] Kolomoisky– who also created Azov. Nazi-nazis, Bandera-nazis, zionazis, neo-nazis, crypto-nazis, they’re all nazis, the labeling is just kayfabe.

bonbon

Reply to VFucci

8 hours ago

Impossible to understand Z without this :
Zelensky holds court with Ukraine’s most notorious neo-Nazi– Alexander Rubinstein·August 16, 2023
Biletsky, Azov founder, is back.
“Western media has dismissed evidence of neo-Nazi influence in Ukraine by citing President Zelensky’s Jewish heritage. But new footage published by Zelensky shows the leader openly collaborating with a fascist ideologue who once pledged to “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade…against Semite-led Untermenschen.”

As Shakespeare put it, “misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.”

Honzo

Reply to Gera1

5 hours ago

I have no quarrel with your views here. Lenin, even if he was a creation of the Rothschilds, wouldn’t either. It’s basic class analysis, but classes are still composed of individuals. It would be very difficult to name the people at the very top, but yes, they do tend to be connected by family ties to the people everyone knows about.

‘Globalism’ is a strategy of the capitalist ruling class. So is Fortress America. Any individual capitalist may change his alignment from one strategy to the other (or others not currently in play in a major way), as their individual interests change, as their perception of the environment in which they function changes, and sometimes as they come down with some new mind-virus. Today’s globalist may be tomorrows Fortress America fanatic. Or a neofeudal prince. Or Grand Poobah of the Secret Temple of the Elders of Mu. The foundation of whatever they appear to be, though, is their drive to preserve and expand their wealth and power, as circumstances allow. Circumstances no longer allow globalist expansion of the old kind. Thanks mostly to Russia and China.

Gilbert Doctorow: Trump OBLITERATES Zelensky with SHOCKING Comments

Streamed Feb 19, 2025

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