Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin wave at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam, November 2017 (Sky)

EA on France 24 English and RTE: Ukraine — The US-Russia Talks Over Moscow’s Invasion

Ukraine War, Day 1,092: Trump — Zelensky is Illegitimate Leader of “Massive Demolition Site”

UPDATE, FEB 22:

I joined the hard-right, pro-Trump UK outlet GB “News” on Saturday to set out the campaign of Donald Trump and his advisors to support Russia’s three-year invasion of Ukraine.

I detail how Trump is “in Vladimir Putin’s pocket” with direct US-Russia talks excluding Ukraine and Russia; lies and insults of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders; and the dissolution of the 84-year US alliance with Europe.

Along the way, I knock back the attempts of host Dawn Neesom to find some genius “master plan” by Trump, rather than focusing on the basics of his admiration for Putin, his hatred of Zelensky, and his desire for $500 billion in rare earth minerals from Ukraine.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, FEB 20:

Bronwen Maddox of the UK’s Royal Institute of International Affairs and I joined BBC Radio Ulster’s William Crawley on Wednesday to analyze how and why Donald Trump is supporting Vladimir Putin in his three-year invasion of Ukraine.

Listen to Discussion from 1:06.56

We review the first US-Russia direct talks and Trump’s lies and insults about Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the recognition of Zelensky and Europe that they cannot flatter Trump into opposing Russia.

Donald Trump’s foreign policy is not for the good of the world. It’s not for the good of Europe. It’s not even for the good of US national security.

It is for the good of Donald Trump.

Then we go wider, connecting Trump’s admiration for the autocrat Putin with his quest for autocracy in the US.