ONWUASOANYA FCC JONES
Everything Trump has said about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine aligns perfectly with Putin’s propaganda and well-oiled misinformation campaign. It is therefore safe to say that Trump advances Putin’s agenda, and he wants Zelensky to cower before him and be force-fed with a deal that does not guarantee Ukraine the security they desperately seek.
My grandfather would always tell me that no matter how hungry I get that I should never accept a morsel of food from someone who disrespects me or my family. It should be a common culture among all tribes and people that allowing anyone to disrespect you just because they are rendering some assistance to you shouldn’t be tolerated. I would rather go hungry than to be called a beggar to my face by someone who wants to offer me food. And I will rather fight with my bare hands and die with some dignity than to be belittled by someone who provides me arms.
It is obvious that the Trump administration rehearsed their shameful outing on world television well ahead of Zelensky’s arrival to the White House. Vice-president JD Vance reminded Zelensky that he went to California to campaign for the opposition in October, and that could well explain the administration’s disgust with him, and their insistence on disgracing him out of office.
Beside the discourteous manner that Trump handled Zelensky’s visit, Trump also based all his arguments on falsehood. He has appointed himself the Chief propagandist of the Kremlin, by working excess hours to discredit every effort invested in protecting Ukraine from the aggressor, Putin. He has spread lies about the amount of money that the US has given to Ukraine and how much Europe has given. He has told lies about everything, including, on who is the real aggressor in the unprovoked war which the Kremlin wages against Ukraine.
A little investigation would tell you that contrary to Trump’s lies, USA has only given about 119 billion dollars to Ukraine as against Trump’s claim of 350 billion dollars. Also, Europe has actually put in more money than the USA in this war. Of course, there are not yet guarantees of a refund for all the billions of dollars that Europe has funnelled into Ukraine’s defence, just like there is none for the USA. However, there are seized Russian assets by both Europe and USA and the most important thing as of now is to protect Ukraine.
Trump’s constant tattle about how America is spending too much money to help other nations of the world casts him as ignorant of America’s place in the world, and therefore, unfit to be President of that country. America is a leader of the free world, and leadership is not a mere appellation but must involve serious responsibility. If America is tired of supporting other nations to preserve their democracy and protect them from incursions from bigger and aggressive nations, then America shouldn’t expect any form of loyalty from these nations.
Trump’s argument that America cannot continue to protect Ukraine makes him a Putin puppy. He leaves no one in doubt that he is afraid of Putin and by implication that America is weaker and subservient to Russia. This is about the most disgraceful thing anyone can do to America.
Zelensky stood up for his country, not minding that he was at the Oval office. He wouldn’t sit down there and watch anyone disrespect his country. Zelensky is exactly what Trump has chosen not to be; a true defender of his nation and a brave patriot. Trump would rather cower to Putin, maybe, for his own political and financial gains, than stand up for America’s pride. Trump sold off America while the cameras were on and brimming, who knows what he does behind the cameras and while he is on private calls with Putin?
