2 weeks on and it feels like the nation is drinking from a hose

First, for the key headlines to wrap up February (2/22-2/28) click here

Now... some topcis for deep dive: 

1. Dumpster fire- Diplomacy….Disrupting a 75-year old framework that works.

The Tump-Zelensky meeting on Friday, Feb 28 was nothing less than a dumpster fire. The country or the world has never seen such a public humiliation of a world leader at the hands of an ally in our memory. While Zelensky definitely lacked tact and command over the  English language to couch his responses in a more palatable way, the instigation and berating by JD Vance was utterly unnecessary  and shameless. JD has been a long time opponent of aid for Ukraine, but the latest episode to humiliate Zelensky in front of the international press seemed like schoolyard bullying. I personally think his interjecting into the conversation was planned to bring some limelight on to him as most of the post election media focus has been spent on Musk and Trump. This was an attempt at resurrecting him into the political discourse. The result of this very public spat was predictable. While Republican yes-men like Lindsey Graham said he could not be prouder of Trump and Vance and asked for Zelensky to resign, the reaction in other parts of the world was down-right condemnation. Of course one nation, Russia, could not be more delighted. They could not have scripted a better outcome from a such meeting where their arch opponent was totally humiliated. The comments from ex PM Medvedev (“The insolent pig finally got a proper slap down in the Oval Office,”) and spokes person Dmitry Sergeyevich Peskov's statement ("The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision") are testament to the fact that US totally played into their expectations. 

The reaction in Europe was like waking up after a nightmare. The only difference between actual nightmare and this one is that this one was that this one was predictable. UK, France and EU quickly called emergency meetings to show public support for Ukraine and to come up with a plan B. The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas even went as far as saying “the free world needs a new leader”.  However, tough talk, hugs and kisses can only go so far when we are talking about helping country in a long drawn war with powerful country. Under the NATO framework US has been holding the big security umbrella for Europe for all these years while EU countries have been investing heavily on social programs. Suddenly, that status quo got a jolt. Europe realized they can’t trust USA for providing security any longer. Already UK and France have committed more military aid to Ukraine since this meeting and France proclaimed it will extend its nuclear security framework to the rest of EU.  However, since Europe’s ability to defend against the likes of Russia or China is still insufficient they have no way of walking it alone without the USA. Hence, after all the consoling and hugs their advice to Zelensky has been to go back to Washington and mend matters with Trump and company. What happens in the next meeting is anyone's guess. But if Zelensky took a class from Macron or Starmer on Trump diplomacy he will come to the White House and give Trump some false praise and ego-stroking to smoothen things out. One thing we know about Trump…he is not a permanent friend or foe of anyone. With some flattery, Zelensky may get a good deal from Trump. Keeping my fingers crossed for the same.