@maxd @hvdzwaag @petergleick
Ukrainians are not that foolish to fall for this kind of pressure they have been dealing with for as long as they have endured.

In my head, Zelenskyy played along to tentatively agree on the extortionate minerals deal, which was a shock to lots of us who knew this was a bad plan.

Then he went to the Oval Office, knowing full well how 47 would act in public and out of camera, to confirm via live television, that this new US regime is 100% under the influence of Putin.
By showing the world the insanity of the situation, he and Ukraine could reject the deal wholeheartedly. And gain massive PR support from it.

In a way, he successfully exposed the American regime for what it is, more than the other Western leaders could have.

Yes, the Americans will try to get rid of Zelenskyy, by order from their Russian master. So now he will be targeted by Russia AND the US. And not only through political pressure…