Is Zelensky trying to get us all killed?

Up till Russia’s criminal war against Ukraine February 24, few Americans understood America’s tortured history with Ukraine, much less its president was Volodymyr Zelensky. Now Zelensky’ is touted thruout U.S. and NATO countries as the new Churchill for his courageous stand against Russian aggression, refusing any thought for his personal safety.

But while the onus for any criminal war is on the country that starts it, reckless conduct of the attacked both before and during the war must be considered in understanding the conflict. On that score President Zelensky is a failure.

He was president only 21 months before the war began. During that time he lobbied for Ukraine to join NATO, which gave the lie to his claim of seeking a better relationship with Russia. He also continued Ukraine’s relentless shelling of the breakaway Russian speaking provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk in the Donbass. Over 13,000 dead there refutes any Zelensky claim to being a leader for peace.

What he should have done to improve relations with Russia; indeed, avoid war, was renounce any intention to join NATO, and implement the 2015 Minsk II Accords, which would have granted the provinces semi autonomy while keeping them under Ukraine sovereignty.

Were those reckless actions rookie mistakes, or was Zelensky simply unfit to ever function on the world stage?

His statements since the war began 26 days ago point to the latter. Faced with an utterly unwinnable war devastating his country, he played the World War III card to get direct U.S./NATO involvement. He requested, begged, even demanded a No-Fly Zone to shoot down Russian aircraft. The U.S. and NATO said in effect, ‘Are you crazy. That means World War III.’

Zelensky upped the march to Armageddon yesterday, asserting he’s considering entering the current Ukraine-Russian negotiation being brokered by NATO member Turkey. The he dropped the stupid bomb, stating that if negotiations fail, “that would result in a third world war”.

A sensible leader doesn’t call for help from other countries that world likely result in World War III. Even worse is telegraphing your negotiating position on ending criminal war: ‘Give in to me or risk World War.’

Zelensky, a lawyer tuned comedian and entertainment mogul, is not stupid. But as president he reminds me a bit of Bob Dylan’s line in ‘Masters of War’: “You masters of war, play with my world, like it’s your little toy.’