Trump Plots Regime Change in Kyiv - Viktoria Nuland, Hold my Beer - Silicon Curtain

[TexasTowelie]

Edition No114 | 20-03-2025 - There is of course a desire in Ukraine for a time when elections can be held in a safe and inclusive fashion. There is massive support for a reassertion of democratic process, because Ukraine has a vibrant and combative democratic culture and penchant for boisterous dialogue. But most people believe now is not the time to unleash these pent-up political forces. The risk of division is something that Putin could ruthlessly exploit to gain advantage.

But as the so-called peace talks gain momentum, the debate over Ukraine’s elections and future leadership intensifies. But this pressure is a matter for Ukrainians, and their democratic agency and expression is theirs, and theirs alone. The trouble is that much of the pressure to speed up the process is coming from the Russian and American sides, and those questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are largely external to the country. People who have no vote in the process, no skin in the game, and are not citizens.

But this coercive pressure is having the opposite effect – that is solidifying his position. Zelensky’s approval ratings had been under pressure due to military setbacks, internal disputes, and questions over governance, but bounced back following the debacle in the oval office. Recent polling shows a sharp rise in his ratings, and the cause is the rift with the United States, which Ukraine did not seek, but which seems inevitable when dealing with Trump, and his entourage, who seem to be imbibing unreasonable quantities of Kremlin talking points.