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Mark Taylor's avatar

The world should know by now that the word of the United States is not to be trusted. Hell, we Americans can't even trust the word of "our" government.

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KC Erasmus's avatar

Trump is both a liar and an idiot, and will end up face down in the mud, by his own doing if he fails to withdraw the US from further negotiations, and from continuing to supporting the Ukraine in any way.

Trump is being played by Zelensky, Not Putin as Zelensky continues to move the goalposts to both a peaceful settlement, and the Rare earth, energy and other minerals supposed deal with the US.

Right now Trump/the US is a co-beligerant in the conflict, therefore making Trump's supposed attempt to negotiating a peace deal, a conflict of interest which Putin sees right through.

Trump and Zelensky have Hobson's Choice in regard to bringing the war to an end, they either accept the reality of Russia's military strength and position and required conditions to be met, or the Russians will totally destroy the Ukraine and expose the US for the Banana Republic which it has become.

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Jim KABLE's avatar

It's a gift for commentators, is it not? Biden -> Trump + Zelenskiy + and Putin - Lazrov. Earlier to-day I watch Professor Jeffrey Sachs giving a full lesson on the progression of the entire conflict from around 1990/1994 onwards and solid commitments made by the US and the German Foreign Minister not to encroach on the Russian border.

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Gilgamech's avatar

It’s quite possible that Trump genuinely wants detente with Russia on a permanent basis - so that target focus could switch to China.

However as you say Trump has unreleastic perceptions of the ability of the US to strike a deal with skeptical Russia, even if he were able to override Deep State inertia and alienate all traditional US allies.

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KC Erasmus's avatar

Trump wants to have his cake and eat it.

He's hoping that his feigned friendship offering to Russia will draw the Russians away from China, however Putin is not the Stupid one, Trump is, and Putin and China see right through this ruse.

Trump also doesn't understand that the Good Cop, Bad Cop Routine cannot be played by one person, it requires two, confirming again that Trump is the stupid one in the equation.

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Diane Engelhardt's avatar

Trump is committed only to getting the most out of any settlement for himself/the US, including a Nobel Peace Prize!

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Lenny Cavallaro's avatar

Trump must believe everyone is a stupid as (fill in the blank: Quayle, Palin, Greene?). He seeks "a deal where the US would gain ownership of half of Ukraine’s mineral and oil resources," and he assumes that no one can see through him.

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Feral Finster's avatar

In fact, it is Russia that sought to avoid this war, has sought to avoid escalation, and is desperate to get out of this war.

The West sees this reticence as contemptible weakness and smells blood.

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