It’s really hard to think how this could’ve possibly gone worse. The whole thing started with Zelensky’s offhand suggestion of trading Ukrainian minerals for US aid which backfired catastrophically. Trump, ever the opportunist, seized on the proposal like a shark scenting blood. He initially framed it as Ukraine having to hand over minerals for future support, which he quickly turned into a demand for repayment of the $300 billion already spent, retroactively recasting aid as a loan.
By floating the minerals idea, Zelensky handed Trump a rhetorical weapon that let Trump box Ukraine into a lose-lose scenario of either surrendering resources or admitting to owing an unpayable debt. Zelensky got accustomed to Biden’s blank-check diplomacy, and completely misread the room here. Now, Trump has the perfect excuse to cut Ukraine loose. He will say that Zelensky lied about his willingness to make a deal, that he doesn’t appreciate US support, and that he was belligerent. The whole thing is an absolute debacle for Ukraine.
The US according to Powell can’t maintain this level of debt. Interest rates are high because nobody wants to buy US bonds, and you’ve got talk of BRICS ending trading oil in USD altogether. Its not like its just borrowed and the US has no repercussions, this is all future austerity.
If the status of the dollar collapses a reserve currency then the US will absolutely be in trouble. I think it’s going to be a little while yet before that happens, but I do agree we’re starting to see some initial signs of the process starting.
I’ve heard someone speculate he will remove tariffs if other country buy 100 year US bonds. This seems kind of plausible.
lol yeah that’s totally on brand
It was like a scripted show for everyone except Zelensky. Zelensky was railroaded and talked over. Belittled. This was an embarrassment for the US and humanity as a whole. It shouldnt have been televised. What a sad shit show.
Yeah I feel really bad for the guy.
What a weird moment of pure media spectacle by two TV-actor-cum-presidents.
So when trump says Ukraine has to make concessions to achieve peace… The first thing that comes to mind is that the allies did the same thing when the Nazis started invading their neighbors in the 1930s. Peace at any cost. It showed that all they had to do was threaten war to get what they wanted. In the end, the cost to stop them was WW2.
My point is that the aggressor must pay a steep cost and still not get what they want.
I am once again begging liberals to learn any history other than WW2
71·4 days agoI once again beg libs to actually learn about ww2.
You’re confused as to which side is the aggressor in this war.
Removed by mod
@tazzy@lemm.ee
@NightOwl@lemmy.ca the “majority” actually voted for someone else or chose not to vote. Only ~30% support this circus.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout_in_United_States_presidential_elections
Majority of people who voted. That is not the same as the majority of eligible voters nor is it anywhere near same as the majority of Americans.
Also, if it were a Dem Pres, we’d have more or less the same outcome just less crass and with more political theater/obfuscation.
What do you think life will be like for the rest of the world if USA, China and maybe Russia are all allies?
Dementia Trump seem to think he is still in the apprentice, you don’t get to fire other sovereign nations presidents though.
Of course the burgerking can fire his lackey
Ending the war is good for all of you/us, I promise. Team Russophibia/Ukraine without US on board will end up worse than when US was setting you up on the team. At any rate, making better friends than Ukraine helps dealing with US.
