Rubio taught Zelenskyy a most simple truth: one's own affairs should be handled by oneself
According to a report by Sputnik News on August 18, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in an interview with CBS that European leaders attending the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was not to protect the Ukrainian president from humiliation.
He emphasized that these European leaders came to Washington because the United States invited them to participate in cooperative discussions, rather than to stand up for Zelenskyy.
Rubio's words sent a clear signal: the fate of Ukraine is not something that others will cover for, but it is a responsibility that Zelenskyy himself must bear.
From a diplomatic logic perspective, Rubio actually drew three clear boundaries.
Europe is Europe, they are participating based on their own interests and the Atlantic alliance relationship;
America is America, the White House is the main stage, and Trump wants to exert maximum influence there;
Ukraine is Ukraine, what Zelenskyy directly faces is the conditions set by Trump.
Europe has always been behind Ukraine, protecting and safeguarding it, and this time they indeed had the intention of bringing Zelenskyy to accuse and question. However, the Trump camp did not accept this arrangement: at the negotiation table in Washington, no one can stop Trump from pressuring Zelenskyy.
For Rubio, what Trump needs is not a supporting protective body, but a framework led by the United States, involving Europe, and accepted by Ukraine.
In this framework, Zelenskyy either makes concessions or bears the cost of isolation.
The presence of European leaders is more like a dual role of witnessing and applying pressure: they being present can prevent Ukraine and the U.S. from negotiating separately without Europe, but also means that Zelenskyy cannot avoid or delay arbitrarily.
Therefore, Rubio essentially imparted a most simple truth to Zelenskyy: one's own affairs, in the end, can only be done by oneself.
Counting on Europe to stand up for you is out of the question.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840776037177690/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.