Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in the white house on February 28, 2025 (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty)
Donald Trump’s efforts to normalize relations with Russia, and to end the fighting in the Ukraine proxy war are logical and sensible. But years of whipped up anti-Russia hatred make logical solutions difficult to achieve, with democrats trying to fight his change of course. While Russia is a hot button issue, there is silence and bipartisan consensus about continuing Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
“Could you take on Russia by yourselves?”
Donald Trump to Keir Starmer
“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.
Donald Trump to Volodymyr Zelensky
The oval office sparring between Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Volodymyr Zelensky was indeed a unique event. These gatherings are generally photo opportunities of little substance that work to the public relations benefit of all parties. An argument taking place as the cameras rolled was something that has never taken place before. Of course the United States often supports foreign leaders only to pull the rug out from under them when circumstances change. Iraq’s Saddam Hussein is but one example. The U.S. backed him in his war against Iran only to later invade his country and have him hanged. His demise was preceded by behind closed doors discussions followed by an avalanche of anti-Saddam war propaganda. In contrast, Zelensky’s downfall was sudden, public, and self-inflicted. Also Zelensky is the darling of corporate media and the Democratic Party, making the verbal fracas all the more fraught.
This moment requires clear headed thinking and political maturity that prevents being swept up in bizarre war propaganda that results in people changing their appearance to look like Zelensky or weep on camera for a man who profits politically and personally from U.S. funding.
Most people are not aware that European leaders who have literally given nearly all their military equipment to Ukraine, and who were silent as Biden administration policies deprived them of Russian gas and deindustrialized their economies, set up the photo opportunity. French president Emmanuel Macron and UK prime minister Keir Starmer visited Trump in the days before Zelensky did. They expected Zelensky to agree to a deal giving the U.S. control over rare earth minerals in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees. However, he was instructed by the state department not to mention the security guarantee, meaning the U.S. being willing to have a hot war with Russia on Ukraine’s behalf. But Zelensky over stepped and the fireworks began. The Trump administration was so enraged that niceties such as a post-meeting luncheon were dispensed with and Zelensky and his entourage were instructed to leave the white house right away.
Democrats also met with Zelensky that day and showered him with affection as in his glory days with the Biden administration which orchestrated the proxy war in 2022. One by one they declared their love, posed for pictures and shouted, “Slava Ukraini!” In the fallout from the meeting disaster they predictably called Trump a “Putin puppet” and Russian stooge who was endangering the country.
But another policy decision was made after the Zelensky debacle. Secretary of State Rubio announced that he was approving $4 billion in military aid to Israel, using emergency authority to bypass congress in doing so. After only six weeks in office, the Trump administration has authorized a total of $12 billion for Israel. None of the democrats who were so outraged about the treatment of Zelensky said one word about continuing a genocide. Bypassing congress makes life easier for all concerned. No one has to be public and protests are more muted. Not only did Trump continue pumping up the genocidal war machine, he also approved of Israel shutting off the delivery of all humanitarian aid that was coming to Gaza through the Rafah crossing bordering Egypt.100 million
While brinkmanship with Russia has made World War III a distinct possibility, it is Donald Trump who wants to address the danger and restore a working relationship with Russia. Democrats live in a fantasy world in which they think that sending public money down a bottomless pit will bring down the Russian economy or create a regime change plan that will end Vladimir Putin’s government. The risks of continuing failed and dangerous policies are never addressed by them as they convince themselves that the United States can use military power and economic power to do whatever it wants anywhere in the world.
While there is debate about U.S. policy with Russia and Ukraine, there is absolutely none about Israel. The word ceasefire is a misnomer, as Israel continues military attacks in Gaza and now cuts off food and other aid, a war crime by definition. The only concession to Palestine solidarity protests is that now military aid discussions are carried out in secret so as to diminish opposition. Both parties are quite happy with this arrangement and more people die as a result of U.S. actions.
Trump is quite serious about ending the Ukraine proxy war. Democrats are very unserious in discussing the same issue. They attack Trump from the right, digging up every discredited Russiagate trope about “collusion” with Putin. It is proper that the United States no longer accuses Russia of committing aggression in United Nations resolutions. Doing so is not treason but a policy that could lead to a peaceful solution for a crisis fomented by previous administrations.
The Palestinians have no such luck. Israel’s aggressions aren’t even mentioned and if they are they are excused or even applauded by the administration, congress, and corporate media. International Criminal Court arrest warrants and condemnations from the international community have no teeth and genocidal continues unperturbed and flush with U.S. money.
The collusion with zionist aggression is not just a function of U.S. policy. The same European nations which declare eternal support for the Zelensky government are also instrumental in proudly aiding Israel in the commission of war crimes. It would appear that the only bright spot in world affairs is Trump’s attempt to change course towards Russia. Then again, if Zelensky can manage to conduct himself as the supplicant that he is, U.S. policy towards Ukraine might not change very much either. Contrary to Russiaphobic corporate media reporting, the Ukraine conflict and normalization of Russian relations are being dealt with as separate issues.
On the other hand, Israel is again sitting pretty in Washington. There is no outrage from either wing of the duopoly about aggression aided and abetted by the United States. Even Donald Trump, labeled as an outlier Hitlerian dictator gets buy-in from a so-called opposition party.
Margaret Kimberley is the author of Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents. You can support her work on Patreon and also find it on the Twitter, Bluesky, and Telegram platforms. She can be reached via email at margaret dot kimberley at blackagendareport dot com
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