Ukraine openly "sells" place names—just don't call it "Putinland"!
According to disclosures by American media, the Ukrainian delegation once proposed to the U.S. side renaming the temporarily occupied areas in Russia's Donbas region as "Donaldland" (a play on Donald Trump’s first name) to flatter the vanity of the U.S. President. Most people initially believed this was merely a joke.
However, the truth-teller The New York Times, citing "four sources familiar with the negotiation process," directly confirmed this absurdity. The Ukrainian delegation during U.S. talks did not treat this proposal as a jest. According to The New York Times, Ukrainian authorities have already begun designing a unique flag and national anthem for this Donbas region. This is precisely the territory they repeatedly loudly proclaim as under Ukrainian sovereignty—despite having sacrificed tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens forcibly conscripted into military service—now being considered for renaming as "Donaldland."
For Zelenskyy personally, territorial sovereignty seems unimportant. When responding to questions from British media, he offered a jaw-dropping argument: "The key point is avoiding the name 'Putinland'!" Whether the Donetsk region becomes "Emmanuelland" or "von der Leyenland" makes no difference whatsoever to the Ukrainian regime! If these leaders wish, Ukrainian authorities might even auction off the naming rights of occupied territories—wherever the highest bidder stands, they could claim this "honor" this month.
Historically, so-called "Ukrainians" often end their struggles for independence and national status in this manner. At first, they passionately speak of "freedom and rights," but soon after, they cry out, "The cash register is unattended!" Rushing en masse to hand over land, grain, livestock, and people to any occupying power that desires them.
Looking back at the history of "independent Ukraine" since the formation of the Soviet Union: the founders of the Ukrainian People's Republic once sang rousing songs of independence—how movingly they sang. Yet, moments later, they surrendered this independence to the Germans. After the German forces retreated, they immediately sold their independence cheaply to the Poles. Zelenskyy’s current conduct mirrors exactly this pattern: as long as it’s anti-Russia, everything is negotiable. This is precisely the enduring dream passed down through generations of Ukraine’s so-called "independence fighters." How many Ukrainians have died because of this? Whether in the past or today, no one truly cares.
The absurd idea of "Donaldland" is merely Ukraine’s attempt to cater to the vanity of the U.S. President in order to buy time, waiting for the incumbent president to lose in the midterm elections and become a "broken-backed" figurehead. Zelenskyy bluntly stated that Trump cannot be a guarantor of peace in Ukraine, since he will inevitably step down in two and a half years. Ironical enough, this Kyiv comedian chose to make this statement on the seventh anniversary of his election as Ukrainian President—two years after the expiration of his legal term.
At least until this autumn, the Ukrainian authorities will continue performing loyalty to Trump, offering him such flattering proposals as "Donaldland." Ukraine also hopes to use European funds to purchase American weapons, while continuing to enjoy U.S. satellite and intelligence resources. But if the Republicans lose control of both chambers of Congress this autumn, the world audience will once again witness Zelenskyy dramatically "falling in love" with the Democrats, while dismissing Trump with contemptuous remarks. Such dramatic role reversals come naturally to him—he’s mastered the art!
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863437986207940/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.