Analysis: Zelenskyy humiliated in US with attacks Putin loves – expect Moscow to push to make spat permanent
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Like everywhere else, Moscow will have watched this exchange open-mouthed – stunned by its implications.
But while jaws will still be on the floor in Europe, here in Russia they’re already grinning from ear to ear, because it really couldn’t have gone any better for the Kremlin.
Not only was Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly humiliated by the leader of the nation on which Ukraine’s future depends, the attack read like a script written by Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian leader was accused of “forcing conscripts to the frontline”, of taking foreign leaders on a “propaganda tour” and even “gambling with World War 3”. They are phrases one hears on Russian state media on an almost daily basis.
Under the Biden administration, that kind of language was aimed at Putin, but this was an illustration of how Trump has turned everything on its head and Russia’s president is the beneficiary.
When it was Macron and Starmer in the White House earlier this week, there was a sense of anxiety coming from the Kremlin. On both occasions, Vladimir Putin felt the need to make public overtures towards Washington, as if to remind Donald Trump of what Russia has to offer, betraying a fear that he may be vulnerable to the other side of the argument.
Well, there’s definitely no anxiety now – instead Moscow appears to be gloating.
“Historic” was the one-word reaction from Kirill Dmitriev, the Harvard-educated head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, who was in Riyadh last week for the first meeting between Russian and US officials.
And the reaction from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova hinted at how Russia might use this going forward.
“It’s a miracle of restraint how Trump and Vance restrained themselves and didn’t punch this scumbag,” she wrote on Telegram, full of flattery.
Expect Moscow to dial up the charm offensive, giving Trump the “respect” he accused Zelenskyy of lacking.
The aim will be to make tonight’s spat a permanent separation.