The chorus of a Dierks Bentley song begins, “I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinking?” Bentley might have dedicated that song to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his Oval Office performance.
Let’s review the bidding. Knowing Harris is losing the presidential race, Zelensky campaigns with Kamala in battleground state Pennsylvania. This would be a tough hole to dig out of against any politician, but fortunately, Trump is more interested in peace than revenge.
Then, before the recent Munich Security Conference, Zelensky agrees on a plan with the United States to develop Ukraine’s mineral resources. Just before signing, Zelensky backs out of the deal and then doubles down on dumb by insulting Trump.
Still, Trump forges ahead, after throwing a few barbs Zelensky’s way, because he wants the killing to stop. It’s not about the deal. It’s not about Putin. It’s about ending the bloodshed.
Finally, the two sides have their agreement the purpose of which is partly to speed up Ukraine’s recovery and to signal for all that the United States stands not against Russia, but with Ukraine.
As explained by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Zelensky insists on an Oval Office meeting. Fine. What followed was the disastrous meeting now replayed worldwide. Obviously, Zelensky doesn’t like Trump and has little respect for the United States. Who stars in an Oval Office meeting wearing a black pullover? As one reporter asked, “do you even own a suit”?
Fortunately, Trump surely already knew of Zelensky’s feelings and he went ahead anyway. Feelings are irrelevant. Only peace is relevant. But disrespect does matter. Zelensky’s next public meeting with a U.S. official will likely be with the personal assistant to the deputy assistant secretary for Squaddosh and Diddly.
The deal is still there to be had and, eventually, a ceasefire and peace. That’s the step-by-step process. Having concluded what Zelensky was feeling—dislike for Trump and disrespect for its foremost patron—what about the second part of Bentley’s question: What was Zelensky thinking?
And as implied by the lyrics, Zelensky wasn’t thinking clearly. Zelensky needed to thank the president and the American people, as he did later in a social media post executing what was clearly operation Clean-Up-On-Aisle-3; a few pictures and softball questions later and Zelensky leaves, success in hand.
The crux of the problem seems to be that the Trump administration has one path toward peace, a path very much aligned with the plan Zelensky pumped a few months ago, but now Zelensky has a new plan based on extortion. In effect, he is saying, “you want peace, then you do it my way.” Otherwise, we’re willing to fight for years.
Guess again, Z, as the U.S. quickly ended support for restoring Ukraine’s energy grid. Why rebuild the grid if Russia’s just going to blow it up again in an endless war?
Message not received, so Trump suspended American military aid to Ukraine. Trump’s message couldn’t be clearer: If you want peace, then follow me. If not, then we’re out. Americans by and large agree with Trump.
Zelensky’s attitude and behavior display creditable chutzpah, but they also raise the fair question whether he is spent as a war-time leader. He has led Ukraine through terrible times, made frightful decisions, endured disastrous dithering and delays from his wobbly partners. Three years he’s held himself and Ukraine together.
A man (or woman) can only take, or give, so much. Perhaps Lindsey Graham is right and it’s time for Zelensky to go so all sides can get on with the business of building a durable peace.
JD Foster is the former chief economist at the Office of Management and Budget and former chief economist and senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He now resides in relative freedom in the hills of Idaho.
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