President Volodymyr Zelensky used a speech at the World Economic Forum on Jan. 22 to deliver a sharp warning to Europe, accusing its leaders of recognizing global threats year after year while failing to act decisively.
“Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech by saying Europe needs to know how to defend itself,” Zelensky said. “A year has passed, and nothing has changed. I am forced to say the same words again.”
Zelensky spoke shortly after holding talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the forum, in what marked their first in-person meeting this year.
After the talks, the Ukrainian president said a two-day trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia is scheduled to begin on Jan. 23 in the United Arab Emirates.
Everytime conscription Zelensky speaks he’s saying nice things about Trump, and then Russia attacks because praising Trump shows weakness. And yet he avoids any criticism by the left like goddamn magic or something.
This has strong “look what you made me do” abuser energy.
Russia is attacking because they’re in an imperialist war against ukraine, not because of Zelensky
I’m not saying “look what you made him do.” I am saying that geopolitics relies on strength and perception. When Zelenskyy praises Trump—a man who openly bullies him and has been engaging in invasions himself—it projects weakness, not strength. That weakness emboldens aggressors like Putin. By praising Trump—the same person who kidnapped the President of Venezuela, bombed Nigeria, Iran & has threatened taking Greenland—Zelensky is praising someone engaging in the same behavior as Putin.
Furthermore, pointing out that Zelenskyy is willing to legitimize Trump’s behavior to keep the cash flowing is a valid critique of his character. It’s strange that the same people who (rightfully) criticize Trump for his authoritarianism turn a blind eye when Zelenskyy feeds Trump’s ego just to keep a proxy war going that is costing American citizens billions and costing Ukrainian citizens their lives via forced conscription.
I think Russia attacks because that’s how a war works?
War isn’t just physical combat, it’s psychological and political. Momentum matters. My argument is that praising an erratic leader like Trump, who openly disrespects Ukraine, signals to Russia that Ukraine’s backing is fragile.
Beyond that, “how war works” right now involves American tax dollars fueling a conflict that includes forced conscription of people who don’t want to fight. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to question the strategy of a leader who is praising the very people attacking American democratic norms, all while demanding American financial support.