Although this happened yesterday, I held off commenting on it until today in hopes of avoiding sensory overload in one 24-hour period.

What happened was a continuation of the incomprehensible remarks issuing from the Oval Office on the subject of Friday’s scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be attending.

Despite the unwavering conclusion of European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, and Finland, as well as EC head Ursula von der Leyen, that Zelensky’s approval is an essential part of any “deal” to end the war, Trump continues to talk about the likelihood of a settlement that would involve Ukraine’s ceding some territory to Russia — the one demand that Zelensky has reiterated, time and time again, is a total non-starter.

And Trump, apparently to appease his friend Putin, tossed in a few snide (and untrue) comments directed at Zelensky. Asked yesterday about the possibility of Zelensky’s attendance at the summit, Trump was noncommittal, but said he was “a little bothered” by Zelensky’s statement that any territorial concessions would require the Ukrainian government’s constitutional approval. What Trump said was:

“I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody. But he needs approval to do a land swap? Russia has occupied some prime territory, we will try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine.” [RFE/RL, August 11, 2025.]

Wait . . . WHAT??!!!

Did he just say that Ukraine started the war and the massacre of its own people? And that it’s up to Russia to agree to give back some of the territory it has stolen? And that it would be wrong for Zelensky to follow the dictates of his country’s Constitution?

Well, yes . . . he did. And he went even further.

He said he will update European leaders if Putin proposes a “fair deal” during the talks, but would speak to Zelensky first, “out of respect…. I’ll call him first … I’ll call him after, and I may say, ‘lots of luck, keep fighting,’ or I may say, ‘we can make a deal.’” [Rachel Hagan and Laura Gozzi, BBC News, August 11, 2025.]

So Trump will make the decision as to what is, or is not, fair and worth pursuing; and Zelensky — whose country has been devastated and its people slaughtered, tortured and held captive by Putin’s marauding troops and constant barrages for three and a half years — will be kept informed.

Well, isn’t he a prince?!!

Continuing with his blame of the victim, Trump added that, while he and Zelensky “get along,” he (Trump) “very severely disagrees with what [Zelensky] has done.” [Id.]

But he did condescend to suggest that there might be a future meeting with Putin in which Zelensky could be included. How generous of him!

In the meantime, it’s shaping up to be a one-on-one with just Putin, Trump, and maybe — though I haven’t seen it publicly confirmed — a sidekick or two: perhaps Pete Hegseth or Steve Witkoff from Washington, and Sergey Lavrov or Yuri Ushakov from Moscow.

And hopefully, an interpreter from each side.

*. *. *

I’m sure there will be more to report later today; but for now, I think I’m just going to let loose with a primal scream, eat a pint of Haagen-Dazs, and curl up in a fetal position for the rest of the night.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/12/25 – 12:00 midnight