Russian strike at Sumy was targeted. This is what Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, says:
„Today’s attack, on Palm Sunday, by Russian forces on civilian targets in Sumy, exceeds all limits of decency. There are dozens of civilians dead and injured. As a former military leader, I understand what targeting means, and this is wrong.”
This means that Vladimir Putin aimed to kill Ukrainian civilians. And not just any day, but on a major holiday, Palm Sunday, in a very special week for all Christians celebrating Easter on the same day this year.
The Orthodox leader who claims to want to defend his country from Western atheistic depravity has decided on a massacre against civilians going to church on Palm Sunday in an Orthodox country.
It is equally cruel and defiant. A sinister grin from Moscow that no longer even cares about appearances, that doesn't give a damn about excuses, that doesn't even bother to justify any legitimacy.
Vladimir Putin is mocking the entire West, led by the US and Donald Trump, whose pacifist efforts are being turned into a sinister mockery.
Why is Putin escalating violence and abandoning appearances? Because he can, because he allows himself to, because Donald Trump has gifted him a dominant position and it doesn't even matter if the American president pursued this result because he is Moscow's man, as has been speculated, or if he has ended up here, being so inept and incompetent that he can't do more.
And the clearest measure of helplessness, at least if not of bad faith, was shown in his own reaction to the massacre in Sumy. After calling it horrible, he rushed to find an excuse for Putin's mistake, which Putin himself didn't even invoke. Then he moved on to condemn the victim, namely Ukraine, which, through President Zelensky, did not make efforts with Joe Biden to avoid war.
Not even in the face of atrocity did Donald Trump have the courage to confront Vladimir Putin.
Sure, he doesn't have much room for maneuver because, since returning to the White House, the US has plunged into total chaos.
Nothing he has tried so far has not only failed but has only caused serious distortions. Chainsaw restructuring of the state has weakened the country's institutional capacity. The trade war primarily affects the American economy and the lives of Americans.
And the "peace one day" in Ukraine has been stuck like tanks in the mud. Not even the construction of hotels in the Gaza resort has begun.
With open wars on absolutely all internal and external fronts, with MAGA losing massive popularity, Donald Trump has no space for a confrontation with Putin.
Moreover, Donald Trump seems to have a weakness for Putin, seems to like him, to admire him, to be the leader he would like to be himself, if democracy didn't get in the way, which he is otherwise trying to butcher every day.
Donald Trump weakens Europe, weakens NATO, maximally vulnerable Ukraine. What would stop Putin from having his moment of glory, asserting his supremacy without any risk? Nothing!
In this context, it is absolutely credible that the scenario of the US abandoning NATO's eastern flank is becoming more pressing. Donald Trump has neither the courage nor the capacity to confront Vladimir Putin. He is helpless. Putin knows it and savors it.
And under these conditions, the question that few dare to ask aloud is becoming increasingly urgent: in fact, does the strategic partnership on which Romania bases its security still exist? If Romania is attacked, will Donald Trump decide for America to defend it or will he accuse it of not preventing the aggression?
Most likely, Romania now depends solely on European solidarity, as it is. Because Trump has already handed us all over to Putin or whoever offers more.
Unfortunately, in this campaign, everything is being talked about, except the elephant in the room, not.