<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">On Mon, Oct 19, 2026 at 12:10 PM John Clark <<a href="mailto:johnkclark@gmail.com">johnkclark@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div></div></div><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="font-size:small"><br></div><div style="font-size:small">Incidentally,
Zelensky has an amazing insight into Trump's relationship with Putin. It was reported in the Washington Post. I can cut and paste if anyone lacks access and wants to see it.<br></div></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Yeah I'd like to see it.<span class="gmail_default"> </span></b></font><br></div><div><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><span class="gmail_default"><br></span></b></font></div></div></div></blockquote><div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span>
<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">"</span>Zelensky had a more compelling theory when he <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/4d79b52f-1f0d-4739-82ab-7ecfb4251326?shareType=nongift" rel="">told the Financial Times</a>
last week that Trump simply has a fondness for autocrats and the
uber-wealthy: “He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such
people and he respects such people <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">"</span> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><span class="gmail_default"></span></b></font></div><div>
<h1 id="gmail-main-content" class="gmail-wpds-c-dXnrMy gmail-wpds-c-dXnrMy-dHdMuz-isOnSplitTopper-false gmail-wpds-c-dXnrMy-iPJLV-css">Zelensky has figured out why Trump loves Putin</h1><p class="gmail-wpds-c-ckOSsQ gmail-wpds-c-ckOSsQ-iPJLV-css">The Ukrainian president shares a compelling explanation after Washington abandons Kyiv — again.</p><div class="gmail-wpds-c-bEimne gmail-wpds-c-bEimne-dyECYW-theme-default"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-eUMOSL"><span class="gmail-wpds-c-bASIGw gmail-wpds-c-bASIGw-ilmVsQY-css gmail-overrideStyles">October 19, 2026 at 7:15 a.m. EDT</span><span class="gmail-wpds-c-bASIGw gmail-wpds-c-bASIGw-idUCtvg-css gmail-overrideStyles">Today at 7:15 a.m. EDT</span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-uyDXS-isHiddenNS-false"><div class="gmail-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-gEQVXO gmail-wpds-c-gEQVXO-gClngc-hasListenBtn-true gmail-PJLV-ihojOro-css"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-gYXPbW"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmMNTu gmail-wpds-c-jmMNTu-gDbwMl-showDurationOnMobile-true gmail-wpds-c-jmMNTu-iPJLV-css"><div role="button" tabindex="0" aria-label="Listen" class="gmail-PJLV gmail-PJLV-ieXqgLD-css"></div></div></div></div></div><br><div><div id="gmail-default-topper" class="gmail-wpds-c-hxwzRc gmail-wpds-c-hxwzRc-ieZkKsh-css">Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky at the U.N. General Assembly in New York
on Sept. 23. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images)</div></div><div class="gmail-grid-body"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-ffLlrl gmail-wpds-c-ffLlrl-iPJLV-css"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-kkHkJQ"></div></div><div class="gmail-meteredContent gmail-grid-center"><div class="gmail-teaser-content"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Donald Trump’s second-term relationship with Volodymyr Zelensky got off to a disastrous start. On Feb. 19, 2025, the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114031332924234939" rel="">U.S. president blasted</a>
the courageous Ukrainian leader as a “modestly successful comedian” and
a “Dictator without Elections” who “has done a terrible job.” Nine days
later, Trump berated Zelensky <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/28/trump-ukraine-russia-zelensky/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">in the Oval Office</a>
for not ending the war that Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin had
started. “You don’t have the cards,” Trump told him before temporarily
suspending U.S. military aid to Ukraine.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-subscribe-cta"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-fdwMEW gmail-overrideStyles gmail-hide-for-print"><div role="separator" class="gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF-eFheZG-variant-default"></div><a class="gmail-wpds-c-dGsLpZ gmail-overrideStyles gmail-js-itid-click" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/margin-of-victory/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class="gmail-wpds-c-dxjemv"><span>What will happen in the 2026 midterms? Sign up for Margin of Victory</span></span></a></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-subscribe-cta"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-fdwMEW gmail-overrideStyles gmail-hide-for-print"><div role="separator" class="gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF-eFheZG-variant-default"></div></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">European leaders rushed to repair the breach. Zelensky <a href="https://www.cfr.org/articles/united-states-and-ukraine-ink-minerals-deal" rel="">signed a deal</a> giving the United States a stake in Ukraine’s mineral rights and agreed to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/11/world/ukraine-us-talks-saudi-arabia-intl" rel="">an immediate ceasefire</a> if Russia reciprocated. Those efforts seemed to bear fruit. At the July NATO summit in Turkey, <a href="https://x.com/lrozen/status/2074845943275356191" rel="">Trump said</a>
Zelensky had “done an amazing job” and had been “very effective.” As
recently as Sept. 22, they had a friendly meeting in New York, with
Trump saying <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/trump-made-final-decision-on-granting-ukraine-patriot-licenses-zelensky-says/" rel="">he had approved</a> Ukraine’s request to manufacture its own Patriot missiles.</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-desktop gmail-preceding-anchor"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-mobile"><div class="gmail-cb gmail-w-100 gmail-db gmail-dn-ns"><span style="height:auto;width:100%;min-height:682px" class="gmail-dividers gmail-article-margins gmail-label gmail-bgColor"><span id="gmail-slug_mob_enterprise" class="gmail-chromatic-ignore" style="min-height:1px;min-width:1px;margin:auto;display:block" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">This month, however, everything went haywire — again. On Oct. 9, Trump had a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-putin-phone-call-with-trump-downplays-immediate-ukraine-talks-2026-10-09/" rel="">phone call</a> with Putin, after which he announced the U.S. would buy roughly 36 million barrels <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/09/trump-says-putin-will-export-diesel-bid-lower-prices/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">of Russian diesel</a>. That will have <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-strikes-deal-with-putin-for-russian-diesel-15751436?st=kibnfw&reflink=article_email_share" rel="">little effect</a>
on soaring prices, but it will pour hundreds of millions of dollars
into Russia’s economy. So much for the recently passed Lindsey O. Graham
Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which authorizes the president to
toughen sanctions on Russia and to impose tariffs on countries that
import its oil and gas. On Friday, Trump announced he was <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/17/trump-signs-executive-order-waiving-sanctions-against-russia/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">waiving the law’s provisions</a> on Moscow, thereby flouting the will of a large bipartisan congressional majority. </p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Not
for the first time, it seems the wily Putin has manipulated a credulous
Trump. The U.S. president is now blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian
refineries for the soaring oil prices that are exacerbating his
political woes. Never mind that his war in Iran is the actual culprit.
If Republicans lose the midterms, Trump has a ready-made scapegoat.</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-mobile"><div class="gmail-cb gmail-w-100 gmail-db gmail-dn-ns"><span style="height:auto;width:100%;min-height:457px" class="gmail-dividers gmail-article-margins gmail-label gmail-bgColor"><span id="gmail-slug_mob_enterprise_2" class="gmail-chromatic-ignore" style="min-height:1px;min-width:1px;margin:auto;display:block" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Zelensky
reacted with understandable anger to the U.S. decision to subsidize the
Russian war machine, which is slaughtering Ukrainian civilians every
day. (Note that Trump condemns <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117434446535757477" rel="">Houthi attacks</a> on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but not Russian attacks on Kyiv.) “It is certainly not how partners should act,” Zelensky <a href="https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/2108657393848467779?s=20" rel="">told reporters</a>. “And, in my view, it is a weak decision ... made by strong partners.” Trump replied <a href="https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2108965640656625701?s=20" rel="" target="_self" title="https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2108965640656625701?s=20">by suggesting</a> it’s “time for Ukraine to get a new president.” When asked if Russia needs one, too, he <a href="https://x.com/BulwarkClips/status/2110035496143384717?s=20" rel="">changed the subject</a>. </p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-desktop gmail-preceding-anchor"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Trump on Thursday <a href="https://x.com/ChrisO_wiki/status/2111002913464062048?s=46" rel="">told Newsmax</a>
that Zelensky is “not a good guy for us to deal with” and “more
difficult” than Putin. He vastly exaggerated the amount of aid the U.S.
has given to Ukraine. It is roughly <a href="https://www.cfr.org/articles/how-much-us-aid-going-ukraine" rel="">$195 billion</a>, not $350 billion, and much of the money has gone to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/29/ukraine-military-aid-american-economy-boost/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">U.S. defense contractors</a>.
Trump also claimed that the U.S. had provided “massive amounts” of
Tomahawks to Ukraine, depleting the military’s arsenal. The Pentagon has
provided <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2025-11/news/trump-rejects-tomahawk-missile-sale-ukraine&ved=2ahUKEwjYxNa6gMGXAxXyBYAAHTC6OpIQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw0VTrg5xd65yhsrd5XwBvZr" rel="">no such cruise missiles</a>.</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-mobile"><div class="gmail-cb gmail-w-100 gmail-db gmail-dn-ns"><span style="height:auto;width:100%;min-height:457px" class="gmail-dividers gmail-article-margins gmail-label gmail-bgColor"><span id="gmail-slug_mob_enterprise_3" class="gmail-chromatic-ignore" style="min-height:1px;min-width:1px;margin:auto;display:block" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Ukrainian officials told reporters that U.S. officials were threatening <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/14/us-warnings-sow-confusion-alarm-ukraine-over-intelligence-starlink-access/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">to cut off</a>
intelligence sharing and weapons sales if they didn’t stop hitting
Russian oil refineries. The speed of Starlink and Starshield, Elon
Musk’s satellite WiFi services, was degraded last week, making it
difficult for Ukrainian forces to stop Russian terror attacks on
schools, hospitals and apartment buildings. It’s still not clear exactly
what happened, but <a href="https://x.com/Barnes_Joe/status/2111156654850847230" rel="">the Telegraph</a>
reported that Musk proposed the move to Trump, who agreed. Zelensky
said Sunday that intelligence sharing had resumed but that internet
restrictions were still in effect.</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-custom_embed gmail-subtype-magnet"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-czKEZ gmail-wpds-c-czKEZ-iPJLV-css gmail-hide-for-print"></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-custom_embed gmail-subtype-magnet"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-czKEZ gmail-wpds-c-czKEZ-iPJLV-css gmail-hide-for-print"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-jhABRY-displayType-mobile"><div role="group" class="gmail-wpds-c-cFpcyF"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-fpCqEU gmail-wpds-c-fpCqEU-ijwcPWV-css"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-cZmHrB"><div aria-describedby="carousel-title-" class="gmail-wpds-c-bUwKeM"><div class="gmail-PJLV"><div role="separator" class="gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF-kJRMEh-variant-strong gmail-wpds-c-dbVHzF-icdXrXM-css"></div><label class="gmail-wpds-c-jNWQdp gmail-wpds-c-jNWQdp-jPiQqD-size-md gmail-wpds-c-jNWQdp-ideRQcZ-css"><div> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"> </span><span aria-hidden="true" class="gmail-wpds-c-cAFeXq gmail-wpds-c-cAFeXq-iezSqPC-css">holds up Patriot missiles for Ukraine</span></div></label></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-JxjdN gmail-wpds-c-JxjdN-igXJmYW-css"><div role="progressbar" aria-label="Pagination Dots" class="gmail-wpds-c-hTMfdt gmail-wpds-c-hTMfdt-ikYpvYP-css"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-eCKEVB gmail-wpds-c-eCKEVB-ikMCQpE-css"><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf-igvqLQB-css"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf-icgRTvp-css"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf-icbRVPW-css"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf-icbRVPW-css"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf gmail-wpds-c-jmWTKf-icbRVPW-css"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">The
Ukrainian president did agree to suspend attacks on Russian oil
facilities for a few days after Trump claimed there would be a
moratorium <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117422699218841250" rel="">on such</a>
strikes from both sides. But Putin continued to target Ukrainian energy
infrastructure in a bid to turn off the lights and heat over the
winter, so Ukraine <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/734dad42-2eef-4a70-8947-c73997e49fd1?syn-25a6b1a6=1" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.ft.com/content/734dad42-2eef-4a70-8947-c73997e49fd1?syn-25a6b1a6=1">resumed its own strikes</a>. Zelensky said his country would stop only if allies provide <a href="https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/2111072415430390028?s=46" rel="">more air defense missiles</a>.</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-desktop gmail-preceding-anchor"></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-mobile"><div class="gmail-cb gmail-w-100 gmail-db gmail-dn-ns"><span style="height:auto;width:100%;min-height:457px" class="gmail-dividers gmail-article-margins gmail-label gmail-bgColor"><span id="gmail-slug_mob_enterprise_4" class="gmail-chromatic-ignore" style="min-height:1px;min-width:1px;margin:auto;display:block" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">What
explains Trump’s bizarre affinity for Putin? The Russian warmonger is
standing in the way of his goal of winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
Shouldn’t Trump be mad at him? I have long since given up believing in
conspiratorial explanations of the relationship. If evidence for some
nefarious tie existed, it would’ve been uncovered by now, especially
after four years of Democratic control of the executive branch. </p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"></span>Zelensky had a more compelling theory when he <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/4d79b52f-1f0d-4739-82ab-7ecfb4251326?shareType=nongift" rel="">told the Financial Times</a>
last week that Trump simply has a fondness for autocrats and the
uber-wealthy: “He speaks about it openly and loudly that he loves such
people and he respects such people.”</p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">It hadn’t occurred to me that Trump views Putin as a fellow billionaire, but it’s true. Putin’s net worth has been estimated at <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-world/putins-net-worth-rivals-elon-musk-cobweb-bank-accounts-assets-hides-full-value-expert-says" rel="">$70 billion to $200 billion</a>. Trump, who made more than <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/30/trump-earned-over-1-billion-cryptocurrency-coin-ventures-last-year/" rel="" class="gmail-js-itid-click">$2 billion</a>
last year, no doubt respects anyone who manages to make so much money
in office while clinging to power for so long. He seldom has a cross
word for any dictator, while regularly berating democratic allies.
Whatever the explanation, Trump’s willingness to do the bidding of a
murderous despot is despicable and dangerous. </p></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-wpds-c-PJLV-bHCGeL-isStandardLayoutAd-true gmail-article-body gmail-type-inline-ad gmail-subtype-mobile"><div class="gmail-cb gmail-w-100 gmail-db gmail-dn-ns"><span style="height:auto;width:100%;min-height:457px" class="gmail-dividers gmail-article-margins gmail-label gmail-bgColor"><span id="gmail-slug_mob_enterprise_5" class="gmail-chromatic-ignore" style="min-height:1px;min-width:1px;margin:auto;display:block" aria-hidden="true"></span></span></div></div><div class="gmail-wpds-c-PJLV gmail-article-body gmail-type-text"><p class="gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF gmail-wpds-c-heFNVF-iPJLV-css gmail-overrideStyles gmail-font-copy" dir="null">Luckily,
Ukraine has become less dependent on U.S. support thanks in part to
Europe’s stepping forward to fill the vacuum. That means Trump has less
leverage to force Zelensky into a bad deal with Russia. You might say
Trump doesn’t hold the cards anymore. Yet by cutting off Starlink
service and intelligence sharing, he can ensure that many more
Ukrainians will die in their fight against Russian aggression. Instead
of ending the war, Trump is prolonging it.</p></div>
</div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div style="font-size:small">Keith<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div><font size="4"><b><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="gmail_default"></span></font></b></font></div><font size="4" face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b> </b></font><div><font size="4"><b><span class="gmail_default"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif">John K Clark</font></span><br></b></font></div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>
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