From an interview of Ukrainian diplomat Roman Bessmertny to the Obozrevatel, Sept. 18:
"Donald Trump is once again emphasizing the need for an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, urging Zelenskyy to "move forward and make a deal." The Ukrainian side is demanding clear guarantees, which the American leader is evading. Trump's approach clearly delineates two tracks. For Ukraine, he offers not strategic support, but a demand to "make a deal" without specific guarantees. For Europe and NATO, he is applying harsh pressure, demanding higher payments and an end to business with Russia. Both approaches are united by a pragmatic calculation: to minimize US costs and turn the war into a resource for political gain, leaving room for maneuver.
The New York Times recently published an article by the talented analyst Thomas Friedman. The article is titled "Allies Ask Why Putin Still Holds Trump." Friedman uses an incredibly precise term: he calls Trump "Godot Trump." Frankly, I don't do programming; it's not my beer, as the Germans say. But I know that Godot is also a program for creating virtual games. And Friedman's description was spot on. I've been searching for someone who could sum up this political figure in one word for a long time. Friedman calls him "Godot Trump."
That is, a man who constantly creates a virtual world. He lives there, and basks in it. So when he repeats three times: "Zelenskyy must sign an agreement, sign an agreement, sign an agreement," he doesn't worry about the terms or the fact that the other side isn't going to sign anything. He simply speaks. Because he wants to speak. He's somehow figured out an equation for himself: "I need to repeat this for internal balance." He doesn't think that people who have facts, arguments, proof, or objections are listening. He constructs his own reality and then destroys it. And he does this several times a day. And so it is this time—it's simply an element of his world.
Look at his entourage. The most telling example is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He's not a stupid man, either, but he's starting to say, "Yes, we can do this, but maybe not. Yes, Russia attacked Poland, but maybe not." We've already ridiculed this tradition, but it's becoming part of the system. Just like three dictators getting together and starting to discuss eternal life. Because what else do dictators have to talk about? They want to reign forever. And here's the thing: Donald Trump is creating virtual news. And he likes it.
Friedman captured the same situation well at the Yalta European Strategy. He says: a man steps up to the podium, begins his speech, and thanks Donald Trump. Why? After all, he hasn't actually done anything. When President Zelenskyy says something like that, it's understandable. But why does everyone repeat it? Because inside everyone who says these words, the question swirls: what's going on? From the perspective of normal human life, he comes across as inadequate. But the problem is that we ourselves are gradually beginning to live in Trump's virtual world.
People have gotten into this game, and it's gaining momentum. He sees this—and plays even more.
Yes. And this virtualization, this playing along with Donald Trump, only fuels his world. But we must stop for a moment and understand: there's a war there, people are dying. And here is Trump in his virtual space, somewhere between the Moon and the Sun. And for him, "people are dying there" simply doesn't exist. He's never felt it. But he's already stopped seven wars. Remember, last time I said he'd name six? Well, now he's saying seven..."
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