Shit-On-Y’All Diplomacy
A perspective from South Alabama.
It is part and parcel of being from Alabama where one learns to inspect a corn cob before handling it. This is especially true in rural areas.
To begin a corn cob argument with Zelenskyy, Trump claimed that the real problem had been that Zelenskyy had wanted to speak badly about his good friend Putin. Yes, Zelenskyy had. I needed to double check twice on that corn cob. That is 4 turns, double check twice. Russia, of course, is the aggressor. During an ongoing war of aggression, the aggressor cannot simply be humored. Trump is doing only that! There was no “shuttle” diplomacy, listen to both sides first. Trump offered no Russian concessions to Zelenskyy. There was only Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy, i.e., see what Putin wants then try to stuff it down Zelenskyy’s throat.
Ukraine is a strategic asset and holds great mineral and farming wealth.
I know I am looking at this from an Alabama perspective, but cab drivers in Montgomery are saying Trump actions on Ukraine are not the same as Kissinger’s Shuttle diplomacy. More like Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy. Here is another overview from Dr. Tim Synder at Yale:
meet with Russia without Ukraine (the insult);
concede to every significant Russian demand in advance of any Russian concession and without asking Ukrainians;
lie that Russia and Ukraine were jointly responsible for the war;
lie in calling Zelenskyy a dictator without condemning the true dictator, Putin;
overstate vastly (3X) the extent of previous American aid;
claim 50% of Ukrainian minerals as compensation for U.S. aid—already given unconditionally.
The Trump Administration first met in Saudi Arabia with the aggressor, Russia—without the presence of the victimized state, Ukraine. That’s a direct insult and inflammatory to Ukraine. (Feel free to call it what you want.) That unabashed and disgusting arrogance is not how diplomacy works. Ukraine’s position should have been heard before Trump devised any plan to make a lasting peace. Instead we got Trump’s Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy. That includes Trump’s grift “How I Can Personally Turn a Buck on this Deal!’ Without that, Trump would not be wasting his time.
Trump ate up and fully digested Russia’s demands at that one-sided Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy meeting in Saudi Arabia. Key points: Russia would be keeping Ukrainian territory held by Russia. Ukraine would issue a cease fire. Russia would make Ukraine cede 50% of Ukraine’s mineral wealth for peace. And of course Zelenskyy said “Hell yeah! Let me jump right on that.”
NOT! Are you crazy?
It does not make sense to demand that the country under attack cease to defend itself, as a prelude to peace, and then to pretend that this in and of itself will bring peace. Russia had no assurances to offer in that discussion, er Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy. Putin’s word is a joke and Zelenskyy stated that clearly. What Trump proposed is utterly ludicrous. Zelenskyy saw through that ruse, and balked. That balk and telling of the truth about Putin’s integrity enraged Trump who began his insulting tirade that Zelenskyy had no position from which to negotiate. Trump was trying to strong arm Zelenskyy in public while simultaneously trying to deflect from any further looking into Trump’s preposterous negotiating position. There you have it.
Trump and Vance declined to hear Zelenkyy’s position. Zelenskyy tried to speak up but was cut off by Vance. Vance essentially told Zelenskyy to STFU and don’t try to “litigate this before the media.” The gall is unheard of in Alabama. A VP telling a head of state to shut up is evidently another facet of Shit-on-Y’all Diplomacy.
Vance actually did not want the American people to hear what Zelenskyy had to say. Hence, Vance and then Trump bulldozed over Zelenskyy’s voice. They double teamed Zelenskyy. Vance tried to change the subject: Have you said, “Thank you?”.
From Alabama, I have to ask have we thanked Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.
We owe them really big time. Zelenskyy and Ukraine have sapped ALL of Russia’s conventional military strength and none of our blood has been shed. We Americans are safer. The rest of Europe is safer. Syria and Iraq are safer. Did Trump thank Zelenskyy?
Trump vociferously yelled that Ukraine’s plight is hopeless. It seemed Trump was trying to convince Zelenskyy he was already defeated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over 3 years, Ukraine has bled Russia of its conventional war-making capacity. Russia has done conscription effort after conscription effort and is running dry there.
Today, Russia’s superior numbers of tanks, APVs, and warfighters are gone. Those were amassed to invade and overrun Europe. The staggering combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 3 March 2025 are estimated to be as follows:
878,070 military personnel;
10,252 tanks, 3400 were T90 versions;
21,290 armored combat vehicles;
24,019 artillery systems;
1,306 multiple-launch rocket systems;
1,093 air defence systems;
370 fixed-wing aircraft;
331 helicopters;
27,655 tactical and strategic UAVs;
3,085 cruise missiles;
28 ships/boats;
1 submarine;
39,327 vehicles and fuel tankers;
3,768 special vehicles and other equipment.
These Russian losses makes us and all of Europe safer. (We have had U.S. troops in Europe since WWII to keep the Russian bear in Russia.)
Perhaps sensing the awkwardness of his position, Vance then shifted to yelling at Zelenskyy that he needed to thank President Trump. That was belligerently argumentative and highly undiplomatic. Vance’s intent was not to get a thank you, it was to badger, to embarrass, and to subjugate into silence an invited head of state, a guest from Ukraine. Vance’s was deplorable conduct for any statesman.
The conversation was just getting started when the unprovoked Vance went on the attack, demanding that Zelenskyy thank Trump for aid that the Biden administration gave to Ukraine. Trump moments later threatened to take away support unless Zelenskyy acquiesced to Trump’s demands.
Trump’s actions are insane. A sucker deal. Standard Trump, the huckster yelling, “Step right up here, ladies and gentlemen, see the embarrassed little Marco stuffed in his suit”
Secretary Rubio was as dumbfounded as he looked. He looked pissed as he knows what Trump was doing. “Radio” promptly sent an apology to Trump for getting caught about to vomit. Green in the face becomes him though.
Trump’s disgraceful treatment of President Zelenskyy—humiliating a war hero while cozying up with Russian propagandists—shows Trump’s no winner. He’s a grifter, a fraud, and a cheap hood who bends over forwards for his Putin service.
Trump’s compulsive demand for gratitude and sycophancy is unreasonable. Trump, as the abuser, wants the victim Zelenskyy, to portray Trump as his “Great Benefactor”. Trump in fact offered no benefit to Zelenskyy.
The Road Ahead. Trump already asked our military to shoot our citizens on the streets, “Can we shoot them in the legs?”), but the military refused. Now he plans to arrest protestors. You know how far with this that he is going. The next fork in the road, no one knows what will unfold. Grab a flashlight, we are in the dark now.
America is already partially digested. As a nation, we have been fed to the snake by a long term collaboration between Putin and America’s oligarchs. I take small comfort in the belief that as America is digested, it will release toxins that kill the snake and along with it the world economy and perhaps our last chance to avert fully catastrophic global warming. The extremist and the oligarchs will suffer with those of us who survive.
As a fellow Alabamian I highly approved of your entire article and statements. You are an excellent writer. Thank you!! I restocked with a note!! I sadly don’t have a lot of followers but I’d love to make this one go viral!!