1/ An interesting analysis by ChatGPT on the psychological aspects of the meeting between Zelensky and Trump-Vance is circulating online.
It reveals a masterclass in gaslighting, manipulation, and coercion from Trump and his entourage. Let’s break it down.
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2/ Blaming the victim:
Trump tells Zelensky, “You allowed yourself to be in a very bad position.”
This is a classic abuser’s tactic—shifting blame onto the victim. As if it’s Ukraine’s fault that russia invaded and is killing its people.
3/ Forcing “gratitude”:
Vance pressures Zelensky to say “thank you.”
This is a toxic tactic—forcing a victim to express gratitude for essential aid, then later accusing them of ingratitude if they dare to defend their rights.
4/ Manipulating the idea of “peace”:
Trump says Zelensky is “not ready for peace.” But what he means is capitulation.
This is manipulation—replacing the concept of just peace with surrender.
5/ Denying the reality of war:
Trump repeatedly says Zelensky “has no cards.”
This is another abusive technique—devaluing the victim’s efforts and portraying them as powerless without the mercy of the “savior.”
6/ Devaluing war victims:
“If you have a ceasefire, you have to accept it so that the bullets stop flying and your people stop dying.”
But a ceasefire without guarantees is just a chance for russia to regroup and strike again. Trump ignores this reality.
7/ Dominance tactics:
Trump interrupts Zelensky, cuts him off:
“No, no, you’ve said enough.”
“You’re in no position to dictate to us.”
This is psychological pressure—establishing a hierarchy where Zelensky is treated as a subordinate.
8/ Forcing capitulation under “diplomacy”:
Vance claims “the path to peace is through diplomacy.”
This is classic manipulation—framing surrender as “diplomacy” while letting the aggressor continue unchecked.
9/ Projection & blame-shifting:
Trump tells Zelensky, “You are playing with the lives of millions.”
But this is exactly what Trump does—shifting responsibility to Zelensky while ignoring russia’s role as the aggressor.
10/ Creating the illusion of debt:
Yes, the U.S. supports Ukraine. But framing it as “you must obey, or you get nothing” is not partnership—it’s coercion.
Support should not come with ultimatums that undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
11/ Erasing Ukrainian resilience:
Trump claims, “Without our weapons, this war would be over in two weeks.”
This devalues Ukraine’s fight, portraying its survival as solely dependent on the U.S., rather than recognizing its own strength.
12/ Conclusion:
Trump and his team used a full arsenal of gaslighting, victim-blaming, forced gratitude, manipulation, and coercion.
This was not a negotiation. It was an attempt to pressure Zelensky into accepting conditions deadly for Ukraine.
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Peace talks are dead. Security “guarantees” from Europe look hollow. The U.S. waits for a Ukraine–russia summit that will likely never happen.
So what can the U.S. and EU do now to truly help end the war?
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1. Expand sanctions.
Target Lukoil & Rosneft — two giants behind nearly half of russia’s crude exports. Cutting their revenues would directly weaken the Kremlin’s war machine. /2
2. Enforce sanctions properly.
Today russian drones still contain U.S., French & German parts. Just like during the Cold War, exports must be tracked from first buyer to final use. No loopholes. /3
Russian officials saying that Putin will not sign any agreement with Zelensky, because he is “illegitimate.”
All of this is a direct consequence of Trump trying to appease Putin. I saw this coming eight months ago.
Here is what I wrote on February 18:
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2/ Here is what I wrote on February 18:
Fox News has reported that russia and the U.S. have proposed a three-step peace plan, which includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and the signing of a final agreement.
3/ According to media sources, russia views new elections in Ukraine as a key condition for the success of the settlement process.
Ukraine is doing its best to strike at russia's ability to wage war against the Ukrainian people, while russia aims to kill Ukrainian civilians. Yet, we never hear America praising Zelensky and Ukraine for ethically defending their country.
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2/ We have heard in the past week that President Trump, others in his administration, and conservative news, reference the 'two warring countries', or the 'two warring presidents.' This is such a gross misrepresentation of this war.
3/ Those statements imply that Ukraine is as guilty as russia for being at war. This war is 100% an act of aggression by Putin and russia, and Ukraine is simply fighting for its very existence as a free country.
It is so painful to read. About 6,000 bodies of Ukrainians that russia has returned. It feels like a vision from the times of Stalin and Hitler. I am grateful to our pathologists who carry out this work, giving relatives the final confirmation of who has died.
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2/ On a dusty railway platform in the Odesa region, Ukrainian workers unload white bags with bodies from refrigerated train cars. The air is thick with the stench of death, The New York Times reports.
3/ Inside the bags lie mutilated remains, caked in mud and rot. They are part of the 6,000 bodies russia has returned to Ukraine in a mass exchange. The bodies arrive by the hundreds.
Usually, the declaration of independence is only the beginning. What follows is the war for independence - because empires never let anyone go voluntarily.
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2/ Our own war for independence was long delayed. Many say we wasted the years when we should have been preparing. That is true, and not true. If we had prepared, the war would have started earlier.
3/ It began later precisely because we did not prepare—because we practiced “multi-vector policies” and tried to fool ourselves and history. As long as we remained in the empire’s orbit, war wasn’t needed. The moment we resolved to break away, war began at once.
It is very dangerous to “hope” that Trump will stop russia’s war against Ukraine.
Yesterday I spoke with someone who genuinely believes the upcoming “negotiations” between Putin and Zelenskyy are a real chance to end the war.
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2/ We talked for an hour and a half. I kept returning to one thought: Zelenskyy could end the war at a meeting with Putin — but only by signing a pact of capitulation.
3/ Yet my interlocutor insisted on Putin’s “weaknesses,” on ways to manipulate him, on tricks Zelenskyy might use to get concessions.