A few weeks ago in the direct aftermath of the Zelenskyy Oval Office meeting, a concoction of emotions swirled distressingly within me. Anger against Trump and Vance, who both peddled Russian talking points and coordinated an ambush designed to degrade and humiliate Zelenskyy, hoping he would submit to a false peace. Anger against the reporter who asked an irrelevant question – this time a talking point from the MAGA-ist themselves and not the Russians but who knows these days – about Zelenskyy’s attire, while Trump subtly grinned. Anger against the MAGA-ist base for who this intricate and grotesque show was manufactured for, chiefly for their sadism. Sadness for Zelenskyy who with the hopes of his people on his shoulders had to sit there in disbelief while realizing the Russians were getting exactly what they wanted. Sadness for the post-WW2 American goodwill and leadership that they were so carelessly shredding. At the time I wanted to write my emotions down as a memory of a painful day and as a summation of my rationale, which I felt wasn’t getting through to those disengaged. However, procrastination prevented me from fulfilling my desire and everything was left unsaid.
It was through this abyss of despair that I can proclaim today – all the while missiles still impact in Ukraine, soldiers continue to fight and negotiations resume between autocrats – that I am optimistic. Yes, issues exist domestically and Ukraine needs America now more than ever, but a coalition has been revitalized in the fight for sovereignty and democracy. The Trump described “free-loaders” are stepping up. Our European, Asiatic and other allies have rallied in support of Ukraine. The series of events following the Oval Office meeting have been as follows. A summit was held with Zelenskyy and European leaders where European leaders agreed to increase defense spending and send additional aid to Ukraine. Plans were floated to have European troops on the ground in Ukraine following a cease-fire or peace deal to deter further Russian aggression. The German elections were held in which the pro-Putin parties of the AFD and BSW were denied a place in the governing coalition. The victor, Friedrich Merz, is pushing for and will succeed in reforming the debt-brake to begin the rearmament of Europe’s largest economy.
The period between the 2024 election and the Oval Office meeting, felt like an inevitable lurch towards a MAGA-infused populist vision of leading Ukraine to whither on the vine. The events described previously, as well as others unmentioned, show a different path is possible. The fight may not over but our defeat isn’t inevitable.