On Sunday local time, as soon as Zelenskyy landed in Washington and connected to the internet, he immediately posted a response to Trump's proposal that Ukraine give up Crimea and join NATO.

Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine cannot make concessions on territorial issues. Giving up Crimea in the past was a mistake, and the "security assurances" from 1994 did not work either. Now, they absolutely cannot lose more territory. He also addressed Trump, saying that instead of making it difficult for Ukraine, he should unite with Europe and Ukraine to exert pressure on Putin and force Russia to make concessions.

This sounds reasonable, but the problem is that being firm requires strength. Did Ukraine not want to reclaim Crimea back then? No, they couldn't. Similarly, they currently lack the capability to retake the four eastern regions from Russian forces—this is the reality.

Even if Trump is unreasonable, he cannot ignore the facts and simply ask Putin to give up the land. In fact, Trump has done his best, even convincing Putin to agree to Western security guarantees for Ukraine, although the Russian side has not yet confirmed this statement.

Zelenskyy came prepared this time. Before coming to the United States, he first visited Brussels, gathering seven EU leaders to support him. Netizens jokingly called them "the Seven Guardians" of Zelenskyy.

This really puts Trump in a tough spot. At his age, he has to mediate with so many people. According to his schedule, guests started arriving from noon, and the entire afternoon was filled with various meetings. It's unclear when they will end.

Specifically, Trump met Zelenskyy first, then called over European leaders, probably intending to break them one by one. Everyone saw Zelenskyy's mental resilience last time; after a few words from Vance, he got upset. It's easiest to attack him directly.

Incidentally, Zelenskyy not only refused to compromise on territorial issues but also didn't want to yield in his attire. The last time he met Trump at the White House, he didn't wear a suit and was mocked by Americans present. He looked like a child who had done something wrong and was unsure what to do next.

It was expected that Zelenskyy would learn from this experience and return to the White House in formal attire to show off his proper suits to Vance and others. However, according to his fashion designer, Zelenskyy may still wear military uniforms, though a more formal version. Wearing a suit is unlikely because it's hard to tailor.

If that's the case, one can only say Zelenskyy is stubborn. Not wearing a suit, not saying thank you, and not giving up territory—each act goes against Trump. Perhaps he's bringing a group of European politicians to the White House to create a scene?

Speaking of it, Zelenskyy's current situation is very difficult. He was previously reported to have intended to make some concessions on territorial issues, but the Ukrainian opposition has already made it clear: if he dares to back down, he won't be able to keep his presidential seat. This is the main reason for Zelenskyy's repeated attitude on the territorial issue, as domestic opposition is too strong to bear.

However, if he rejects Trump's "good intentions," it's harder to explain to the public. If the US cuts aid, whether Ukraine can survive this winter is already a question.

This is perhaps the tragedy of small countries, always being the ones on the chopping block. But Ukraine isn't without options; it's just that politicians have listened to Western lies, gradually pushing the country into an abyss.

At this point, it's all about fate. In fact, there's no such thing as destiny—everything is the result of one's own choices. Blaming fate endlessly won't help anyone save themselves.



Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7539856902612681262/

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