Ukraine Got a Major Battle Victory. Trump Is Not Happy.

9 comments

1. Jonathan Lemire: “Ukraine’s drone strikes deep into Russia delivered a humiliating blow to Moscow last weekend. Kyiv’s defenders celebrated the attack as a triumph of modern warfare and a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the extraordinary operation got a different response inside the White House: anger. 

   “Donald Trump has openly vented in recent weeks about Putin’s unwillingness to end the war. But since Sunday’s attack, which hit a series of Russian military airfields, the president has privately expressed frustration that the strike could escalate the conflict, according to three administration officials and an outside adviser to the White House. (They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.)

   “These sources told me that the drone strike has reignited the president’s long-held displeasure with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and prompted a new debate in the White House about whether the United States should abandon Ukraine. Throughout the war, Trump has deemed Zelensky a ‘bad guy’ and a ‘hothead,’ the outside adviser said—someone who could be pushing the globe toward World War III. Trump privately echoed a right-wing talking point this week by criticizing Zelensky for supposedly showboating after the drone attacks; according to the adviser, Trump was impressed with the audacity of the strikes but believes that Zelensky’s focus should have been on Ukraine-Russia negotiations in Istanbul.

   “Trump spoke with Putin yesterday, and, in a readout of the call on Truth Social, the U.S. president relayed the Kremlin’s plans to strike back against Ukraine. ‘We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides,’ Trump wrote. ‘It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’

   “Trump did not say whether he had warned Putin against retaliating, and two of the administration officials told me that he has not decided on his next steps. Officials have presented him with options that include sanctioning Russia and reducing American aid to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump told aides this week that he does not believe a summit with him, Zelensky, and Putin—which he once hoped would be a way to bring the war to a close—will happen any time soon, one of the administration officials told me.

   “… Exasperated with the conflict, Trump continues to muse about walking away from any sort of diplomatic solution. In his Truth Social post about his call with Putin, the president seemed eager to change the subject to focus on ending a different international crisis. ‘We also discussed Iran,’ Trump wrote about ongoing talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. ‘President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.’

   Read more: [https://theatln.tc/0jOUYcjN](https://theatln.tc/0jOUYcjN) 

2. So Mr Trump believes that Ukraine doesn’t have the right to defend itself? He’s so bended to Putin’s side that it gets very annoying.

   I really hope Ukraine will prevail and real peace will come to Europe, in spite of Trump.

3. Who was it that said Ukraine held no cards? Trump or Vance?

   Either way, they both look like fools now.

4. Trump is trying his darnedest to end the war and look like a hero. Russia is not cooperating (surprise, to no one) plus they launch a bunch of strikes at Kyiv – Trump was mad about that too, taking a jab at Putin for escalating the conflict further. Now Ukraine hits back with two major operations, and again Trump is mad, because he’s not getting the results he’s promised.

   It’s tit for tat on escalations right now. Russian with the ongoing strikes, Ukraine hitting back – Trump just wants anyone to listen to him and deescalate, but neither side is backing down.

   Personally if I was negotiating peace, it would piss me off too, but as soon as you have half a brain to realize Russia doesn’t want peace – you can see why Ukraine keeps defending itself, and keeps conducting operations. Ukraine can’t just back down, while Russia keeps hitting them, then after say “oh but we want peace”

5. its hillarious how one single (and very successful btw) operation changes everything in pro-ua eyes.

   Frontline constantly crumbling? Bussification intensifies? No, it doesnt matter.

   12 planes was destroyed during 1.5 year covert operation? NOW THATS THE DEAL, UKRAINE IS WINNING

6. **TL;DR:**

   • Donald Trump has expressed frustration over Ukraine’s drone strike on Russia. The strike has reignited the president’s long-held displeasure with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sources say.

   • The White House has said that the U.S. was not told in advance about the surprise attack, which was carried out by drones hidden across five of Russia’s time zones.

   • Trump did not say whether he had warned Putin against retaliating, and two of the administration officials told me that he has not decided on his next steps. Officials have presented him with options that include sanctioning Russia and reducing American aid to Ukraine, the sources said.

   • The president had hoped that some progress would be made in this week’s talks in Turkey, but the meeting was overshadowed by the drone strikes and went nowhere, they said. Steve Bannon and other influential MAGA voices have berated Ukraine for the attack and are attempting to push Washington further from Kyiv.

   • On his podcast this week, Bannon blamed Ukraine for, in his view, sabotaging peace talks while potentially provoking a massive response from Russia.

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7. Of course he is not happy, Ukraine makes it hard for him to chicken out.

8. Ok. What is the end game though? Ukrainian “victory?” What would that look like?

9. Yes, but honestly, in the grand scheme of things, one can’t live one’s life wondering if one’s actions are making Trump happy or not.

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