this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2025

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‘A spectacle to horrify the world’: what the papers say about Trump and Vance’s meeting with Zelenskyy (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 months ago by Powderhorn@beehaw.org to c/news@beehaw.org

13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've still not seen the video, and I see no reason to. But it's worth noting that when the media unite around how shitty something is, it might be shitty.

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[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 31 points 3 months ago (2 children)

OK, I've now seen the video. And what the actual fuck? "You don't have the cards" coming from a guy who bankrupts casinos is ... I mean, I don't have words. This was an utter disgrace and not any show of power. It was a dressing-down of someone trying to protect his country.

This is a fucking embarrassment. This is a man of dim intellect trying to tell a foreign head of state why he should just cede authority to a larger power without considering that maybe Ukraine doesn't want to be part of a reconstituted Soviet Union.

[–] ninjaphysics@beehaw.org 18 points 3 months ago

It's a mob shakedown by an incompetent, myopic, known to be liar and his minion. Repeating yourself, raising your voice, and latching onto half-ideas to push your brand -- "intimidating" and bluffing to force the deal only works if you had any respect in the first place.

Also, it feels like Vance's PR team told him he's being overshadowed by Trump in the media so he should make a big show to boost his ratings. Absolute clowns.

[+] pixelpop3@beehaw.org 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] UngodlyAudrey@beehaw.org 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Zelenskyy knows damn well he can't trust Russia to uphold their side of the bargain. Taking this deal would only grant them a short reprieve while Russia recovers their strength and comes back to finish the job. Ukraine is in a terrible position(and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Russia ended forcing them to reinstall Viktor Yanukovych), but, as long as Ukraine has the will to fight, they should do what they feel is best. If they choose to fight a losing war to make it as painful as possible for the Russians rather than sign a "peace" negotiated by two hostile powers in which Ukraine was not even consulted, that is their right.

Trump and Vance are a fucking disgrace. They were trying to discredit Zelenskyy in the eyes of Ukraine and the world. It's important to remember that this is one of the least ambiguous conflicts in recent years. Russia literally declared a war of conquest using one of the flimsiest casus bellis ever. And here comes this asshole Trump, who is like "maybe we should try to do that might makes right stuff". Now Canada, Mexico, and Greenland are getting threatened with invasion and forcible annexation. That's why Ukraine must be supported if they choose to continue fighting; not only are they the unambiguous victim in the conflict, but the more painful things get for Russia, the less likely they will be able to wage further wars in the short term, and maybe it might make belligerent countries think twice about stealing land and subjugating people they have no right to.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Do not protect Nazis. I'm removing your comment, regardless of how well-reasoned you believe it to be. It's not.

ETA: Shit, this is not my community and I can take no action. I expect the admins to address this shortly after reporting it. Don't do this on Beehaw.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 8 points 3 months ago

If you cannot be fucked to spell his name correctly, why should anyone listen to the rest of your bluster into the wind?

[–] dotslashme 8 points 3 months ago

This will have zero impact on the Cheeto, its all fake news to him.

[–] along_the_road@beehaw.org 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Trump hates Zelenskyy and Ukraine. There is no finding common ground with him.

It was very clear from the Trump's first term when he withheld aid from Ukraine unless Zelenskyy took blame for the hacking that Russia did.

[–] along_the_road@beehaw.org 4 points 3 months ago

The inquiry reported that Trump withheld military aid[a] and an invitation to the White House from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to influence Ukraine to announce an investigation into Trump's political opponent Joe Biden, and to promote a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine–⁠not Russia–⁠was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election.[4][5]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impeachment_of_Donald_Trump

[–] ninjaphysics@beehaw.org 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I can't help but point out - during the previous Trump term, he appointed family to positions and they were everywhere in the public eye. Now it's very rare to see any of them. I wonder if they're just as tired of his bs as everyone else now as he goes deeper into the rabbit hole.

I also wonder how Vance's wife is in all of this. I only saw her once during inauguration at the church service, but largely didn't pay attention to any of the transition or the people involved. If she's an actual caring human, I wonder how much abuse she encounters. Or maybe she's as messed up as the rest of em...

[–] andyburke@fedia.io 9 points 3 months ago

She married JD Vance. 🤷‍♂️

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 6 points 3 months ago

I've raised rabbits. Calling this a rabbit hole is an insult to them. They're actually quite intelligent.

[–] jarfil@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago

This seems to be an interesting take on the interaction:

This was an AMBUSH at The White House

The mere presence of Vance, the TASS reporter who got expelled at the last moment, the stupid question about not wearing a suit, the comments about discussing stuff "behind closed doors" instead of "in front of the cameras"... they all make the interpretation plausible. It gets compounded by the latest draft of the agreement being nothing like what Trump had been screaming about.

IMHO, it looks like Trump wanted to reenact his interpretation of the negotiation process in front of the cameras to make himself look great, but Zelensky didn't want to take part in the charade.