And so it continues.
Call it whatever you want, but the firestorm in the aftermath of Friday’s disastrous White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — the ostensible purpose of which was to sign a rare earth minerals agreement — continues to rage on two principal sides, one of which attacks Zelensky for continuing (or even starting) the Russia-Ukraine War, while the other continues to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin as a brutal dictator hellbent on invading his neighbors.
Regardless of which side one stands on, American classicist, military historian, and conservative political commentator Victor Davis Hanson (VDH) on Sunday delivered a bottom-line reality check to the Ukrainian strongman — that will likely fall on deaf ears.
“How could I sum it up best?” VDH asked, continuing (emphasis, mine):
I think this is the key to it. The people that Zelenskyy does not feel comfortable with or doesn’t like — the MAGA movement, the conservative Republicans — they have the power over his fate.
And the people that he dalliances with, and he feels comfortable, and he’s a rock star with — the Europeans and the American left — don’t have any power. The Europeans talk a great game, but they have not come through with the economic and financial and military assistance as was promised. And the American left that has made him a rock star — they’re not in power now.
So he has to understand that that he has to get along with the president. That means you come in with a suit, you do not interrupt, and you cut a deal that’s mutually beneficial on the mineral concessions. That creates a de facto commercial tripwire, roughly along a DMZ [demilitarized zone], and now you have a basis for a lasting peace.
My final wish, I wish that today as I’m speaking, or in the ensuing weeks, the two sides can come together because we’re very, very close to peace and it’s in Donald Trump’s interest to get the credit that he deserves for it, and to stop the Stalingrad of the 21st century.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is a consummate example of why Victor Davis Hanson is among the top intellectual thinkers in America.
So as I suggested at the top, the main reason for Zelensky’s visit to the United States, to Trump’s Oval Office, was to sign what was a reportedly already-agreed-upon first phase of the rare earths mineral deal before the Ukrainian defiantly, if not intentionally, ran his choo-choo train off the track.
🚨🔥VDH: What Zelenskyy Doesn’t Understand Is The People That Made Him a ‘Rockstar’ Aren’t In Power Anymore —
“The people that Zelenskyy does not feel comfortable with or doesn’t like, the MAGA movement, the conservative Republicans, they have the power over his fate.”
“And… pic.twitter.com/Pk6sXc9Oyh
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 2, 2025
So where does the mess now stand?
As RedState reported on Sunday, Zelensky told the BBC (British Broadcasting Company that he was ready to sign the minerals deal, which Trump continues to say is now off the table.
ALSO READ:
Democrats Encouraged Zelensky to Scoff at a Possible Peace Deal, Setting Up Oval Office Blowout
WHOA: Fox Reporter’s Backstory on Trump-Zelensky Meeting Shows Just How Mad Trump Was
Not to nitpick, Z, but perhaps you should thought the whole thing through before you tried to roll Trump and Vance like you rolled Biden and Harris. Just a thought, Z.
Here’s the full video:
