Zelensky the Fool
by John Kass | March 2, 2025
A while back I made mention of one of my favorite short stories: Gimple the Fool.
It was written by Isaac Bashevis Singer, about a baker who becomes the laughingstock of his village, for insisting on believing the chastity of his unfaithful wife who had sex with half the town and multiple children by other men, though she adamantly insisted the kids were Gimple’s.
Today, I’d like to amend the title to something a bit more newsworthy:
Zelensky the Fool.
Because that’s what Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky is now, especially since he insulted America and President Donald Trump in that televised Oval Office meeting. He boasted, he insulted, he gestured like a stupid, pushy, peasant in a bazaar haggling over the price of vegetables, like a greedy turnip merchant. Sighing repeatedly he rolled his eyes like a drama queen.
And he got his ass kicked out of the White House on Friday. Later, in an interview with Brett Baier of Fox News, the fool refused to apologize though twice given the chance.
The problem with acting like a tough guy is the chance that someday, you might be face-to-face with a real one.
Not a movie tough guy. But a real one.
And if you’re stupid enough to believe in your own bull(bleep)—and all that the smoke that CNN’s Christiane Amanpour and the rest of the corrupt legacy left-wing media blows up your behind– then you might make a real big mistake.
The mistake of talking like a tough guy with nothing in your hand but your own sweaty palm.
That’s what happened to Zelensky who participated in an unmitigated Oval Office disaster for himself and his nation in a sit-down with President Donald Trump.
The left wing media took his side and immediately condemned the Republican president, but Trump Derangement Syndrome and their partisan tribalism has blinded them to reality, just as it blinded Zelensky.
Zelensky, so used to ordering presidents and ordering a weak President Biden around, came to the White House Friday.
The world prayed for peace and thought that perhaps the war between Russia and Ukraine that has cost so many lives would come to an end. We thought he was ready to sign a “rare earth” deal with the U.S. which would bring American business to Ukraine.
That’s when Zelensky began insulting the U.S. and Trump. He rolled his eyes. He sighed. It was disrespectful. It was the posture of a man thinking he was dealing with malleable American fools.
His threats didn’t work out as planned.
Zelensky: You don’t have problem now, you have nice oceans. But you will feel it in the future…
Trump: Don’t tell us what to feel. You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with world war III.
Vice President JD Vance: Have you said ‘thank you’ once?
It got worse for Zelensky.
Trump kicked him out of the White House and cancelled lunch. A news conference was cancelled. As he was ushered out by White House staff, Trump issued this statement.
“I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace,” Trump wrote in a social media post immediately after the Oval Office meeting. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
The poor people of Ukraine understandably freaked at the arrogant idiocy of their so called leader. At least President Trump didn’t slam the door on peace. I would have, but I’ve always thought Zelensky to be a fake gangster, a comedian out of his depth, backed by truly dangerous killers.
And the Washington Establishment Pearl Clutchers were in full-throated cry. The lead hound of this wobbly, warbling pack was Fox News analyst Karl Rove—who has had his bread buttered by the Bush and the Cheney families—predicably whined that Trump should not have allowed such diplomacy to take place on television. Rove was a cheerleader of the needless war in Iraq.
Other talking heads among them grasped at straws. Soon they’ll come out with Adam Schiff leading the charge that Trump is a Russian agent. Sen. Chris “Naked Ambition” Murphy said Trump was all about helping Russia as Putin’s lapdog. They’re desperate to cry Russia Russia Russia as if Hillary Clinton still had them dancing on strings.
I watched Fox News Brett Baier interviewing Zelensky who gave no real answers, just gas and blah-blah-blah. My head hurt. Zelensky was twice asked if he would apologize. Zelensky did not apologize.
But not all analysts are such unmitigated fools like Gimple or Zelensky, the leftist Schiff or the grasping Murphy.
For an alternative view, consider the realist perspective of a now retired but hard-eyed senior CIA officer and American diplomat who has written for you here in the past:
My brother Nicholas S. Kass.
In his essay written and originally published August he offered an admonishment for Europe and others to think about the reality of the situation:
The American Deep State Through “Foreign” Eyes
It was written as a diplomat would write his dispatches to the lords of the fictional nation of Nerastia, reporting on the mood of America to his political audience back home. It asked the client—i.e. some head of state—to disregard the smoke being pumped and pay attention.
It was vital that they should be “anticipating and mastering the new political grammar of the possible next administration as a hedge against change.”
Trump did win re-election. They had to anticipate the change. Their job was to understand the vocabulary of the incoming (Trump) administration. They did not.
“The deteriorating security situation in our wider region, continuing economic challenges, and the often tone-deaf neo-liberal embrace and advocacy of social issues deemed alien and destabilizing by key constituencies in Nerastia and some other countries, makes it clear that course corrections would be beneficial. Either way, as a nation committed to democracy, with painful experience of totalitarianism shared with many countries across a vast region of Europe and elsewhere, Nerastia cannot and ought not rely, or be seen as relying, on Washington’s pro-coup elements to maintain the US policy status quo.
“In this context we should be mindful that in the US, the problem of what is increasingly seen as a rogue administrative/Deep State” apparatus, which has come to dominate US policymaking, has become a key election issue.”
And this:
“Above all, we should understand that the handwriting may well be on the wall and begin now to develop policies that correspond to the emerging realities in Washington, rather than waiting until after the fact.”
The message was important: understand what is truly happening in America. Learn how Trump thinks and speaks, and respond constructively. But they didn’t. They liked left wing smoke smoke pumped up their backsides, and Zelensky played the greedy turnip merchant until he was ushered out of the White House.
Putin is a bad guy. He’s in the wrong. He should not have invaded. The war should not have happened. But Presidents Obama and Biden played stupid, childish games that invited it. They dangled NATO membership in front of Ukraine. It provoked Putin to act. Zelensky would never get into NATO. The Europeans don’t want to be contractually obligated to fight a war. And America won’t fight. I won’t give my sons to die for Zelensky the Fool.
So, who thought Ukraine would win this?
Nobody.
Only perhaps the fools of the leftist corporate media like the New York Times, Washington Post, the network news shops and others, the smoke tickling their behinds that was blown up there by the masters of war who are making huge profits on Ukraine arms sales.
And more smoke blown by Obama hatchet-woman Samantha Power and her fraud-filled U.S. Agency for International Development, that has spent hundreds of billons of American dollars on horsepoop creating an echo chamber of disaster.
For a column today I had thought about the Academy Awards that no one watches but MSNBC leftists, or the Festival of Fools from the Golden Moutza. But I’m a newsman and I’ll always defer to the news.
Zelensky believed his own myths. He obviously believed his own horsepoop and the media’s horsepoop.
And he forgot something else.
Nobody does disinformation like the United States. Nobody.
It pains me to agree with an oily Republican weasel warmonger like U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, but I must agree with him on this:
For the good of his nation, Zelensky should resign. Or go back to Trump apologetically on his knees and sign a deal and cease fire.
Now he’s free to return home, and try to blow smoke up the behinds of his own people. But some in Ukraine are not fools like corporate leftist American media or American Democrat politicians. Ukrainians will rally around him now. That’s human nature. But the realists in Ukraine have seen what they’ve seen.
He cost them a chance at peace. He’s their one-eyed jack. And they’ve seen the other side of his face.
(Copyright 2025 John Kass)
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About the author: John Kass spent decades as a political writer and news columnist in Chicago working at a major metropolitan newspaper. He is co-host of The Chicago Way podcast. And he just loves his “No Chumbolone” hat, because johnkassnews.com is a “No Chumbolone” Zone where you can always get a cup of common sense.
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Comments 78
Thanks John (and Nick). You never disappoint me with your writing to go along with my first cup of coffee on a Sunday morning.
I do not want my grandsons and nephews sent to Europe either. But there are times when it appears inevitable. May God grant us peace on earth.
Have to agree with you, Zelensky is a gangster operating out of his depth backed by really bad guys. He must have figured it was going to be like the Biden days, Zelensky “I need 1 billion $$”, Biden: “OK. Let’s have lunch.” I hope VZ has an AHH HAA moment and this can be repaired.
I think Trump miscalculated. He expected Z to roll over and accept Trumps unfair deal. Trump did not win this deal.
He claims he is the deal maker. But when you deal, you have to offer something. He offered nothing and Zelinsky would have none of that.
Trump will not win the Nobel peace prize. He would get the chombolone prize!!!!
Again, great insights, John. So many saw only THIS interaction between our leaders. They are failing to see the hours and hours of diplomacy that went into this meeting, thinking they were going to see the real diplomacy happen in real-time. It doesn’t happen this way, nor should it. Rubin’s interview later with jokeresque Kaitlin Collins laid it out beautifully. Zelenskyy should have come in to sign the deal his diplomats (and he) had agreed to. What we have here is a failure to communicate, if I can steal that line. And to communicate well one must be able to read between the lines, and it seems many are unable to do that. The deranged see only what is in front of them, like a dog returning to his vomit. So they look and what they see in their eyes is more orange-man bad, and not a real patriotic leader fighting for peace in a world fraught with danger and evil.
Biden supported Zelensky (or would have supported whomever else was in charge in Ukraine) in order to protect his crooked “family business”. The President of the United States was blackmailed, plain and simple, and the crooked media and the warmongers, not only went along with the blackmail, but they also helped cover the blackmail up. The blood of the Ukraine and Russians killed in the fighting is on their hands.
Agree, 100% with this assessment. Pam Bondi has a lot of work to do…
Timely, and correct as always!
I found it a GLORIOUS moment!
Foreign leaders can’t come to the People’s House anymore, berate them, then expect gifts and praise.
It’s like when that one neighborhood kid comes to somebody’s house, insults the mom, talks back to the dad, hogs the Playstation, then demands snacks: “Time for you to go home and stay home until you can behave, Young Man.”
Happy Sunday!
I hope Zelenskyy’s life is made further miserable by his own people.
Here here!
Yes! Exactly Lori!
Great column. Zelensky bluffed and was called on it. Trump is brash but he’s apologetically representing the American people. It’s about time we started acting like the big dog in the world.
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bingo
He does not represent me. He will never respresent me!
Oh Judson…I feel sorry for all the Dems who can’t come to terms with our country’s new reality. To overcome your TDS, try reading/watching some of Sasha Stone’s podcasts on Substack. You need help.
Mr. Z’s act is wearing thin. Why does this guy always wear the black golf shirt with a trident? It reminds me a little of Castro in the olive green outfit. He baited DJT to get a reaction and the legacy media use the sound bites to make him look bad, and a supposed Putin sympathizer. I guess the war machine is more profitable to Mr. Z than the rare earth and he has no chance of winning an election after the war. Cleaning up the mess that was left behind, from war, inflation, trade, debt, immigration, and failing schools, seems like a anchor holding us back but we have no choice and will get it done. It just will take a little longer than we hoped. Priority #1 should be our kids health and education.
Real tough guys don’t blink or have their arms folded.
Ukrainians are tough people and hundres of thousands of them have p[roved that.
This goof is Jimmy Kimmel in Cosplay.
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just got off the phone with nick. i’m still stunned at the stupidity of this clown.
Yes, it is unbelievable, right?
Great column John-it is always suspicious that few ask for an accounting of the Billions we have gave them.
I saw something recently on a FB post where the Dems were trying to say that our country has given Ukraine far less than other European countries have. I feel like any amount is too much when there is no plan for peace, and there never was.
Victor Davis Hanson:
What are Zelenskyy’s alternatives without much U.S. help—wait for a return of the Democrats to the White House in four years? Hope for a rearmed Europe? Pray for a Democratic House and a 3rd Vindman-like engineered Trump impeachment? Or swallow his pride, return to the White House, sign the rare-earth minerals deal, invite in the Euros (are they seriously willing to patrol a DMZ?), and hope Trump can warn Putin, as he did successfully between 2017-21, not to dare try it again?
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vindman should go work for him. they should both be sent to the eastern front in burlap sacks
You got it right, John: “Zelensky believed his own myths.”
The yes man Biden is gone. The new Trump key word is No!
I’m not going to argue with the politics of our country regarding this Ukrainian conflict as I’m no fan of *any* of our politicians. I don’t want US men & women sent in there.
I know Ukrainians. If you say “The Ukraine”, they get really mad as that’s what their Soviet overlords called their “territory”. Ukraine was carved up prior to the Soviet era by Russian & Austro Hungarian empires. They’ve suffered under their overlords. They gain their independence but then Putin seems to want to resurrect the Russian empire, which stretched to include most of Poland (now spending close to 5% of GDP on military). Putin’s bombing the hell out of a recognized country and annexing their land is not a world view I endorse.
The bureaucratic European states operating out of Brussels need to take the lead on and prioritize what should be the most important European matters like Putin’s incursion into Ukraine rather than insignificant ones (e.g. regulating the type of chargers phones can have). As their trifling defense budgets & readiness for the most part show, they continue to live off of the post cold war “peace dividend” while looking to the US to pick up most of the tab.
Excellent column. I watched that meeting and was appalled. Then I saw some clips of media types commenting and I was disgusted. Our goal is to detach Russia from China. Peace in Ukraine is step 1. Pointless, hypocritical, virtual signaling [like insulting Putin] is for Davos, not the real world. All it does is complicate matters and make a few useless pundits and elected hacks feel good. When will these commentators actually address our nation’s interests, not earning brownie points with their dwindling audiences or worthless and corrupt EU creatures?
John
U r rite on in this. Russia DIDNT start the war, we did. We promised in early 90s that there would be no NATO ENLARGEMENT, IE EASTERN MOVEMENT. WE BACKED OUT ON ALL PROLIFERATION TREATIES DURING THAT TIME. We kept pushing the Russkis into war. WE HAVE MISSLES RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR BORDER AND WERE WONDERING WHY THEYRE UPSET WITH UKRAINE.
Watch Jeffrey Sachs below
https:/youtube.com/watch?v=J9x5E0ETyv8&si=3nU8SFC4Ja658Q9i
IF this link doesn’t work google Jeffrey Sachs/Ukraine war/you tube. We are being fed a ton of BS. TRUMP IS RIGHT, THIS LITTLE POS WANTS WWWlll!
Molly Hemingway posted on X last night. She stated that Zelensky had a meeting with Susan Rice and other democrats prior to the signing of the agreement where he was told to blow up the deal in front of the cameras.
I believe that Zelensky is tragically foolish and over his head, but he is not a fool. A dupe perhaps but not a fool. A court jester for the forever-war crowd but not a fool. He met with the usual suspects just before his meeting at the White House, and the usual suspects of the war crowd blew smoke up his keister and puffed up this wee pisher out to do their bidding and blow up any chance of peace. The Euro crowd were also in on the action witness wee Norway’s response to denying our refueling our nuclear subs. I say let the Euros support fund this buffoon (“buff” in the old neighborhood) with their own blood and treasure. We have far more important threats ahead like China and our weakened economy to straighten out. Let’s save some shekels and make America great again.
Zelensky must now be a synonym for a deluded weakling, or its contraction “bluffoon”.
Thank you John and Nick for putting granular context to what we saw in the Oval on Friday. Rubio knew from days and days of roller coaster diplomacy with the little fool that there was a possibility he would go off half cocked as my dad used to say. The shifting crosswinds that are taking place in domestic politics has not made it to Europe but I sense the citizens there are restless, too. Starmer’s bromance with Zelensky is about as genuine as a 14 karat gold ring. Nick is absolute correct. The new paradigm demands new ways of understanding Trump’s language and adopting new ways to respond. 40 some days in, and we’re light years away from the total capitulation of Biden and his henchmen (and Samantha Power)! The Holy Week approaches. God bless America. ✝️🇺🇸
I smell two rats…Obama and Susan Rice. Meanwhile, the leftist media is having a field day. My liberal friends are raging about Trump ending our democracy. I can’t even post anything on Facebook, as I’m being censored for being a trump supporter. Thank God I’ve got John Kass!
WSJ comments from the Left are “Trump is Putin’s puppet” . “Trump sold out Ukraine to Russia “. They live in a different world
” Trump kicks out Zelinsky, staff eats his lunch”. Hilarious headline from Breitbart. Sums it up perfectly. One of the local news stations stated that a demonstration was going in Ukranian Village area of Chicago. Footage showed ONE woman with a sign and a bullhorn yelling at cars driving by. And these guys can’t figure out why they have no credibility as a news source by most of the US public. Zelinsky has offered to resign if Ukraine were granted NATO membership. Then he offered peace if his country could have nuclear weapons. What a fool. He also demands that the US deploy ” peacekeeping ” troops into the Ukraine. How many of our Neocons are sending their kids on that European vacation? The only thing stopping Russia from totally annihilating the Ukraine right now is the expense of having to rebuild it which Russia does not want. Zelinsky should resign and move to Switzerland where he can buy a massive estate and live out his life like a billionaire. Which is what he is, thanks to the money he’s grifted from our country. Or maybe move to Martha’s Vineyard and buy a good chunk of land next to the Biden family compound. Grifters of a feather flock together. Don’t they?
Dear Mr. Kass,
I would not be so polite as you about President Zelensky.
Ukraine has been the recipient of more US Aid than what they have as a GDP for their country.
You make a good point: President Zelensky was used to (for that matter the entire NATO and EU) America being a sugar daddy. That has changed and President Zelensky (NATO and EU) don’t like it. They would prefer a US that just threw money at them.
Lastly, what these dimwits don’t get is that the mineral deal would put the USA smack dab in the physical location of the conflict area. If Russia decided to screw around there, they would come face to face with a US protecting their economic (strategic) interest. Its a win for Ukraine because Russia would be deterred by the US actual physical economic (and strategic) interests in the region. Not to mention the “commission” Zelensky would get for his most helpful assistance to the US.
Mr. Kass, you’re wrong about one thing:
“So, who thought Ukraine would win this?
Nobody”.
Wrong. Go back to Winter, 22-23. The Russians had been driven out of the North and pushed back all along the Eastern front. Instead of using the Winter pause time to negotiate a peace with Russia, back on its heels, our idiot president, who as Robert Gates said is always wrong on everything, pushed to arm Ukraine to drive the Russians fully out – including Crimea. How did that go?
John, it seems that you’re more interested in the personality of Zelensky than the freedom of Ukraine. I think that NATO membership for Ukraine would pose little risk to the people and territory of Russia. It would limit the ability of Putin to reconstitute the Soviet Union. Putin invaded a free country, resulting in 10s? 100s? of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars of damage. Trump, the master negotiator, starts by saying Ukraine should give up all the territory lost so far and agree to not join NATO in the future. At that rate, by the time he’s done, Ukraine will be patrolled by Russian troops and the Ukies will be paying reparations to Putin. I’m sorry to see your comment that you’d slam to door on peace. How many more deaths are you comfortable with? Are you fine with Russia keeping the territory it currently possesses? Would you be good with Russia taking over all of Ukraine? How about the Baltics? Poland? I don’t understand the Republicans who seem to have no problem taking Putin’s side in this. They’re joining the North Koreans, Iranians, and Chinese communists is supporting, or at least not opposing, Russia’s invasion. I’m sorry your head hurts from watching TV, but 100s of thousands of Ukrainians have had the guts to fight for their freedom. The least we can do as Americans is to try to negotiate with their interests, not Putin’s, in mind.
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William you must be kidding.
Who wrote this for you?
Susan Rice?
War happened because we and our European allies intervened in Ukraines government in 2014 causing a coup.
Now it’s clear Russia will not lose this war and yes they have taken more territory in the East.
So in your world just keep fighting and dying is the solution?
Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you.
Unless you are prepared to go full in for WWIII
this is not the hill to die on.
Reality sometimes sucks and the reality here is Ukraine needs to negotiate the best possible peace or say goodbye to many more of their countrymen.
I often wondered how horrible it must have been for those who grew up in Soviet controlled countries but then I thought about the North Korean people.
The old Soviet Bloc was a piece of cake compared to North Korea.
Sometimes you take the best deal you can so you can live to fight another day.
You are exactly right John. We caused that coup bcuz the leader of Ukraine then (name I 4got) stated the country ‘would be neutral’. This cause panic amongst our dark state war mongers. We want to box in Russia. We have our missles in almost every country near them. Why? We almost went to Armageddon when Russia put missiles in Cuba. So they can’t have their missiles in countries near us but we can put ours in Europe. That sounds fair. BS!
John H, I’m a free-born American male. I’m fully capable of doing my own writing. My ideas are certainly up for debate, but they are mine alone. Many Ukrainians are worried that Putin won’t stop with Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, but will move to conquer the whole country. They are willing to fight for their freedom. I don’t buy into your suggestion that a coup in Ukraine in 2014 forced the Russians to respond with a military attack 8 years later. Putin started this war, the US should support those he invaded, not the aggressor. Diplomatic and economic pressure should be applied. We should keep Russia isolated – let them work with the North Koreans and Iranians. NATO is not designed to invade Russia, but to keep Russia from invading the European countries. Putin seems to want to put the USSR band back together by force if needed. We should work to oppose this. If any of the former Soviets or Eastern Block countries decide to get back with the Russians of their own free choice, that is certainly up to them. They’ll have to get used to Russian and N Korean “oversight”.
Γιάννη,
Zelinsky made a catastrophic mistake. He thought he was still talking to Joe mumbles and his leftist lackies! He comes to the oval office dressed as if he’s going to a soccer game, demanding to be respected! If clothes make the man, this guy should be a janitor! He wanted a live forum cause he thought he was in charge at the meeting. What the whole world saw was an amateur trying to play with the pros! As I said, big νγαφφα!! He owes us all an apology….
In the Real World , whatever Peace Zelensky could get today ,with DJT’s help, is the best deal he will get . The war will continue until Russia/Putin have had enough and then Russia/Putin will dictate the terms of the Peace . In the meantime , tens of thousands of Ukes will die and more infrastructure will become rubble. But Russia will win and Ukraine will lose . And Zelensky will go into exile in Paris in a nice flat with a government in exile lapping up monies from whoever dumb enough to support this clown and his circus
Trump is right. It isn’t our war to manage and win. Our track record of trying to win wars that aren’t ours is a bit spotty.
Tim Kelly:
You are spot on. The Ukraine war is not ours. In my lifetime our country has fought in so many that have given us nothing. Nothing!
I am 71. By my eighteenth birthday the Vietnam war was winding down. Nobody from my birth year, or born in any following years, was ever drafted.
I did not understand it during Vietnam, but I do now. My late mother was rabid anti-Vietnam war. She said time and time again, “No son of mine will die over there,” and vowed to do anything she could to prevent that.
It is clear now. No American men or women should be put in harm’s way in Ukraine or anywhere else that has no direct benefit to us.
Unfortunately, war is big business. Bombs, bullets, missiles, and lives generate billions in profits.
“My life’s a small enough price to pay, to teach those commies American way…” are the lyrics to the Leon Russel song, ‘Down on the Base’ (1971).
I’m four years older than you, David, and the main reason I didn’t wind up in Vietnam is probably because I got a good number in the first draft lottery. Others I knew were not so fortunate.
While none of my friends were killed in Vietnam, that doesn’t mean their lives weren’t dramatically altered by it, as it screwed several of them up mentally. (Not necessarily because of drugs.)
Michael Nolan:
Thank you for your reply.
Even though nobody born like me in 1953 was drafted, we still had a lottery for that year. I recall that the lottery was televised. We all watched.
Prior to my lottery it was said that those drawn in the first 50 would likely be drafted. They gray area was 51 to 100, maybe drafted, maybe not. Anyone pulled 101 or higher would not be drafted. My number came out higher than 200. My mother was infinitely relieved. Nobody born in 1953 was drafted.
More lyrics from Leon Russel’s ‘Down on the Base:’
“He’ll give a dollar for your fingers
Two dollars for your eyes
You pay the price of freedom, boy so realize.”
We all must resist paying that price again.
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well said.
Will Rogers said, ‘Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock”.
Zelensky appears unable to say ‘nice doggie’ to anyone, and he needs others to provide him with the rocks.
Zelensky met with Democrat lawmakers before his oval office meeting with President Trump and VP Vance. They implored him to blow up the meeting in front of US media in order to appease their own Trump Derangement Syndrome. He obviously obliged. We know which side he is on after receiving hundreds of Billions in US aid from the Democrats.
In the course of the heated discussion Zelensky resorted to name-calling by calling VP Vance a ‘bitch’ (pronounced SUKA in Ukrainian).
Until he apologizes publicly to the American People, President Trump, and VP Vance, he will remain personna non grata in Washington DC.
I watched the entire meeting. I was so glad Trump stood strong yet when I looked at social media it is amazing how many people were against Trump and of course all the Ukraine flags came out.
Do they realize he was asking for a commitment to send our troops in there to fit Russia? I absolutely do not want to have more soldiers die in yet another mindless war.
Thanks JK, and Nick Kass.
John Kass’ story and reportage about the turnip guy and the “real fool” is terrific and on the money. If it was our money, it would be marvelous as John Kass and President Trump stand tall for it.
Thank you John Kass and brother Nick for this column of WTH is actually going on…..As you say, the left put Z person’s head in a cloud of power, but he slept walked away from their words into a meeting with his uniform of the day….some might say “Sunday go to meeting” garb.
It seems that President Trump’s trust in anything France or UK have to say in their support of Zperson, should be the use of his favorite word……… Does Europe really feel they can beat Russia…..after Putin takes over Ukraine?…..without America?
How long does Zperson wait before he realizes the need to apologize in a grand manner of sorts? How long will it take the remaining citizens of Ukraine to keep him in office?
Things are going to get deep and thousands more will lose their lives on both sides of this war. How many will die before some Zperson will wake up?
Too many rhetorical questions…..
President Trump is now reacting and planning much like Xi and the Chinese in playing the long game. Thank you President Trump!
God bless you John Kass.
Tom
I have donated to Ukraine relief and support funds. I realize as a never voted for Trumper that I am in the minority on this site. So,in London,on Sunday,a coalition of Europe countries pledged $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine as a step toward an ultimate ceasefire.It is true that Mr.Zelensky used to be a comic actor. You can find his series on Netflix. But,Putin is a lot worse than most leaders. So,John K. is wrong and his brother the diplomat is wrong to assume Trump had a better plan for a peace deal with Putin. If you doubt this,fine. But Trump has been building golf resorts or tall hotel towers with his name brand in Europe and now his son in law has Saudi funds,to expand it to Albania,etc. In other words,Trump is not really about Peace or all those rare earth minerals which were also supposed to be in Afghanistan. Remember,he invited the Taliban to Camp David in the first term.How did that work out? Zelinsky may be targeted or may lose support at home but Ukraine folks won’t settle for an unverifiable deal. Europe folks out of self interest are working on a better plan,not Trump. And Zelinsky thanked Congress and our support in July. Look it up.
You seem to conveniently forget that there were no wars under President Trump when he last served in office as President of the United States, and he initiated the Abraham Accords in the Middle East.
Perhaps you should volunteer to be cannon fodder for the buffoon Zelensky and join the multitude of Ukrainians being kidnapped off their streets to become part of the carnage….talk is cheap.
Thanks, John…especially the following passage: So, who thought Ukraine would win this?
Nobody.
Only perhaps the fools of the leftist corporate media like the New York Times, Washington Post, the network news shops and others, the smoke tickling their behinds that was blown up there by the masters of war who are making huge profits on Ukraine arms sales.
And more smoke blown by Obama hatchet-woman Samantha Power and her fraud-filled U.S. Agency for International Development, that has spent hundreds of billons of American dollars on horsepoop creating an echo chamber of disaster.
I usually agree with you, John, but this time I have to take issue with your essay. There is an old joke about the definitions of “involved ” and “committed”. At breakfast, the chicken is “involved” while the pig is “committed”. Trump, in this situation, is the chicken.
You have written about your father’s experiences in the Greek Civil War when it could be argued, his compatriots were the underdogs and no one expected them to prevail. They fought anyway. Zelensky’s country was invaded by an aggressor. What would you have him do? Should he simply roll over and let Ukraine disappear into Putin’s new soviet union because we have spent enough money on him or because J. D. Vance doesn’t like his manners? I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Trump and Vance set him up because they didn’t have a convenient solution (the Russians, btw, aren’t cooperating with Trump’s grand plan) and this way, they can blame the ungrateful Zelensky.
I agree with you. The wrong guy is being demonized.
Great column John. The whacked out left will now attack you. Stand strong!!😃
I listen to news cast, read the newspaper and go on web sites to be current with world events and no where have I read about Zelensky meeting with former Biden people in advance of his meeting with President Trump and his people. I am gladGlad I read the comments as I am informed of things I don’t know.
John, I know I am in the minority here, but I’m not some left wing nut job. I think you were wrong to call Zelenskyy a fool. People who know me who tell you I’m very conservative, and I voted for trump all three times.
But what I saw at the White House was disgusting. It was a bully, picking on a much weaker person. Zelenskyy was surrounded by Trump and his loyalists. What I saw was him trying to make the point that Putin never lives up to his agreements, and that cost Ukrainians many lives. He sat there and kept his cool, even when both the president and vice president constantly talked over him.
What Trump should have done when things got heated was to say this meeting was over, and moved it to a secure meeting room And try to turn the heat down and work on the agreement. I heard nothing in that room about the mineral rights agreement they were supposed to be working on.
Agreed. Well said.
Then send your children and grandchildren to fight the expanded war Zelensky wants.
I hope Trump does not let him back in the Oval Office unless he wears a suit and tie.
Trump met first with the leaders of France and the UK- the same leaders that Zelensky went to after Trump – this was a collaboration for peace . And Trump is right Zelensky is not ready for peace but when he is will be welcome .
An American presence in Ukraine will detour Russia — the minerals deal will ensure that . You can bet Zelensky was tutored by the UK and French leaders –
Zelensky will be back soon
Spot on John. After we eventually get this deal, let’s find out where the money really went!
And now the Fool runs to mommy and daddy, Britain and France, to broker a deal.
Do not let Ukraine into NATO or there will be your children and grandchildren in a war in Ukraine.
Putin thought that he could get in and get out of Ukraine.
After all, Biden was an empty suit, but Putin was already moving towards Ukraine under Obama.
Remember: Obama sent Ukraine blankets.
So, Obama signaled Russia that blankets was all that Ukraine would get from the U.S.
VP Biden and staff were sent to Ukraine, where Biden wanted a “corrupt” prosecutor fired or Ukraine would lose out on a billion bucks.
And where is Tony Bobolinski these days.
Zelensky, an aspiring comedian and TV star won the election and a whole world embraced the guy that ran on an anti-corruption message. Ah, democracy.
And now? Zelensky wants billions more, will not hold elections, has suspended the country’s constitution and has a curfew.
But, Trump is the dictator.
As Hollywood actors, DC deep staters and other world leaders were showing Zelensky with money and praise, Trump was already looking for ways to quickly end the war and Zelensky was about to learn what a real world leader was like.
It didn’t go well for Z. It didn’t go well for Europe. And Putin, I’m sure, was sitting there laughing his ass off.
It’s hard for me to understand why we are constantly treated like an abused girlfriend on the world stage, but we are. If Zelensky doesn’t want to negotiate with us, then why not talk to Russia. I mean, diplomacy has worked in the past.
It has been said that Ukraine is the most corrupt country in Europe. That’s OK. We have Chicago and New Jersey.
Since the media can’t get anything right, we need to lock them out, get Ukraine under control and on our terms and end this vicious war. I don’t care about “rare earth”, although I have them on my playlist.
But, I wouldn’t sign a deal that didn’t include new elections in Ukraine, monitored by the US.
Zelensky needs to be gone regardless.
And if Ukraine wants to rebuild with our help, then they’d better be prepared to give us something in return like rare earth and precious metals.
We should be done with being the world’s largest charity. We can’t afford it anymore.
Someone else will have to fund drag queen story hours.
Well said!
You must listen to Jeffrey Sachs chronology of events since the fall of the Soviet Union to understand where we are today.
The USA and NATO promised Gorbachev and Russia that that would not go “one inch” East towards Russia. That promise was broken leading to Eastern European countries joining NATO and putting the world in this position today.
What a “Gordian Knot” which Trump is trying to untie!
EXACTLY, JOSEPH, EXACTLY. EVERYONE SHOULD LISTEN TO TO SACHS FOR THE TRUE HISTORY OF WHATS GOING ON IN UKRAINE.
What are your plans for Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia? Moldova? Poland? More carve-outs for Putin? I know that Trump despises Zelensky and has since his first term “perfect phone call.” It is equally clear that Trump likes (loves?) Putin. I can’t imagine that Trump cares one way or another about Ukraine except that it’s an obstacle to his plans for a Trump tower in Moscow. Trump’s view of the world is Trump, Putin and Xi in charge, with maybe a little MBS on the side. Jared might need some more Saudi cash, ya know. It’s an odd world when we send Vance to lecture Europe and Musk to romance the German right wing, but snuggle with murderous Putin. Oh, I forgot, Zelensky is the dictator and he stated the war. It’s time for Men In Suits to clean it all up.
Unlike the “Brothers Rhodes” who helped cover up Hillary’s Benghazi debacle, the “Brothers Kass” expose the truth.
God Bless you both.
Yes, Zelinsky is not a diplomat and couldn’t constrain is emotions to coldly make that “deal of the century” for Ukraine. BUT, I can imagine how difficult it was for him, having widstood countless bombings of his capital city and countless attempts to assasinate him by agents of his “Northern neigbor”, to then hear his “allies — leaders of the free world” parot disinformation composed and telegraphed by Moscow. I saw his hands stuffed under his armpits as if restraining himself from signalling his disgust. AND, Moscow has been very clear about their true intentions regarding Ukraine — eliminate a Ukrainian government, eliminate the Ukrainian language, culture and history, eliminate Ukrainians, period. Moscow has been at this for hundreds of years, witnout success, and even Krushchev revealed that Stalin (Putin’s hero) tried to accomplish Ukrainian destruction, but complained that there simply were too many of them to eliminate. If one wants evidence of Moscow’s intentions, simply read about what they’ve done in the “occupied territories” — closed Ukrainian schools, closed hundeds of churches of Christian denominations, other than Moscow’s Russian Orthodox church, kidnapped thousands of Ukrainian children to Russify them, pressed thousands of Ukrainians to fight agaist their own people. Finally, if an interested observer were to understand what Moscow’s War is all about, just consider what Russians have bombed (homes, apartments, schools, hospitals, churches) and not bombed (shipbuilding industries, jet engine manufacturers, rocketbuilding industries, tank building factories), which is what they desperately need to regain their world power posture of old. What Moscow could not permit is for Ukraine to develope its extensive oil/gas deposits (discovered in Eastern Ukraine, Crimea and the Black Sea shelf) thereby freeing themselves and Europe from Russia’s energy stranglehold. This War has very little to do with suppression of Russians in Ukraine (thousands Russians have been fighting Moscow’s troops since the begining in 2014), considering that most of the people killed or maimed by Moscow’s warmaking have been Russians and Russian speaking Ukrainains living in Eastren Ukraine. Tragically, Moscow is “liberating” their fellow Russians by killing and maiming them. Moscow’s “perceived” existential threat from the “West”, pales in comparison to Ukraine’s “actual” existential threat from Moscow. In such circumstances, how should a president behave?
You nailed it. Just imagine an American politician under similar circumstances being offered the “flight out of harm’s way” as Zelensky was three years ago. They’d have been on it in a flash. Zelensky: “I need ammunition, not a ride.” John and Co. are bashing the wrong guy.
John: You are totally wrong on this. Zalensky is the tough guy. Vance and Trump are the fools. Zalensky is the one who said, “I don’t need a ride, I need bullits”. Trump and Vance are the cowards here. Cowering to Putin. Why would they think that a man who has faced being killed every moment for the last 3 years would not talk straight to them. Not down – straight. The only good thing that might come out of this is a true EU. Keep pandering to Tucker Carlson and his I love Putin ideas.
I believe Putan can be trusted.. NOT… That was the main point that was trying to be made.
Z the Fool also took it upon himself to swear at our VP.
Zelensky met with democrats in Congress and Susan Rice (Obama), with a couple republicans, right before the Oval office meeting. They pumped him up and sent him in , hoping for the debacle. They thought they could bully Trump into more money without questions or results and hoped to embarrass POTUS. The problem is, the American people don’t like war and don’t want to send their kids to a foreign conflict between 2 corrupt oligarchs. UK is giving “loans” and thinking about putting UK military on the ground…..this all stems from the corruption of the Biden family and their hangers on. Let’s not fund the Biden plan, he wasn’t cognitive, his only defense in history. Why are we so willing to fight til the last Ukrainian.
Why? Because our weapons manufacturers make boat loads of buckos on people dying. Then some of money just happens to get kicked back to pols who voted for the bills for the manufacturers. Simple.
Putin may be dislikable but with the fall of communism he (and Russian leaders before him) made many concessions to the West not to interfere with the Russian sphere of influence. The West, by courting Ukraine and waving membership in the UN before it was a provocation for war.