This is a very hopeful sign. It is abundantly clear now that all the western leaders are solidly of the view that Trump is a Putin asset and can no longer be flattered into doing the right thing. And the Western leaders know that they will have to take the lead, even if it it 180 degrees opposed to Trump.
It is both ominous and hopeful that Zelenskyy alluded to having some commitments to EU boots on the ground in Ukraine. It would be an escalation, and one that Putin will have to think long and hard about. Putin's big plan was to use Trump, lePen, and the other fascists to hobble NATO/EU. But just as Trump's belligerence is apparently leading to a reversal of support in favor of the liberals in Canada, Putin's intransigence could lead to an even greater military failure than he has already suffered, and a STRENGTHENING of European resolve.
Obviously Putin could escalate this into a nuclear conflict, safe in the knowledge that the US would not counter-attack. But the UK and France have considerable nuclear arsenals. Putin ought not to go there.
These will be some heavy talks this weekend, and this is all happening WITHOUT Trump. That is about the worst thing that can happen to Trump's ego. I bet that by the end of next week, Trump will try to push himself into those European negotiations, and probably with Putin's encouragement, because neither Trump nor Putin figured on a united Europe.
It is ironic that Trump spend so much time berating Z about playing cards and not being in a strong position. If Europe holds firm, then Z is in a much stronger position than Trump realizes, especially considering that so mane Americans -- even members of the Good Old Putin party -- are strongly supportive of Ukraine. 69% of REPUBLICANS support Ukraine over Putin according to WSJ.
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/most-trump-supporters-also-back-ukraine-polling-russia-war-87ab141a
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