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We have just witnessed the most disgraceful display by our president and vice-president in the Oval Office. Ukraine has been brutally attacked by Putin’s Russia. An estimated seven million Ukrainians have been displaced, hundreds of thousands have been killed, Ukrainian children have been kidnapped.

President Zelenski has courageously rallied his country and the rest of the world to fight off the Russian brutality. Trump and Vance meant to bully and humiliate President Zelenski with the purpose of leaving Ukraine no choice but to surrender to Russian aggression.

It is crystal clear Trump is negotiating for Putin and not with Putin. I have been involved in many negotiations. To tell Ukraine they “do not have the cards” and detail their problems only emboldens Putin to continue to kill more Ukrainians and not to negotiate. You do not undermine and stab your friends in the back. This makes it clear Putin is really Trump’s “friend.”

The whole spectacle was disgusting. To top it off Trump and Vance tag teamed to beat up and pile on Ukraine’s President Zelenski. One bully was not enough. Vance made it a point that President Zelenski must show respect and gratitude to our autocrat-in-chief and both took delight in humiliating President Zelenski.

President Zelenski was the only leader in the room, and he did not need a stuffed shirt to prove it.

The unfortunate result for the United States is that it demonstrates that our leaders are weak and cowards and will not defend freedom. We can expect more problems to develop around the world.

Joe Pacovsky

Hayward, MN