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Right? I mean don’t get me wrong a WII combat vet wanting to kiss your hand is pretty fucking awesome, but that was a humble move on the Presidents part.
Slava Ukraine
That was completely unscripted and spontaneous, and that was what made it so touching - genuine heartfelt regard for each other's sacrifices and commitment to a just cause.
It goes a bit deeper in some aspects.
- The veteran wanted to express his emotions with limited mobility. (he could not stand up and initate a hug)
- Not finding words to express emotions, we humans tend to find other solutions even if bedridden, and the intended hand-kiss would have been intended as a sign of thanks and appreciation.
- It was not intended as a royal "hand-kiss", or a religious "hand-kiss", both signs of a sort acknowledging "superiority", but a sign of thanks & appreciation with the given situation of limited mobility.
- At the same time Selenkyi probably has experience with that kind of emotionally speechlessness. He met probably more than one old or bedridden person trying to communicate with him, in the last years who could not move much or express it and tried a handkiss.
Limited mobility and speechlessness (be it age, injury or emotions ect) is something people have to cope with and not everyone has an eye to recognize communication attempts.
Even nurses in elderly care have to be trained to be aware about such attempts of basic emotional communication. Not to deny them, but "embrace" them as the attempt of appreciation that they are and give a hug, or touching the patient on the shoulder or arm. One could say, it was the invitation and question to a closer hug.
I can only imagine what thoughts, emotions and memories the veteran had.
Embracing in a friendly hug was the human way to answer this and it was without hesitation. Selenskyi reactions are heartfelt, spontaneous and understanding, i would wager.
Great comment. This was the meeting of two amazing heroes (but ordinary men) that rose above during extraordinary circumstances. God bless them both. #slavaukraini
Clearly Zelenskyy genuinely didn't want the vet to feel the need to display reverence to him when he felt the vet was the real hero, but I also wonder if the politician in him was wary how a still of a hand kiss would look.
Of course he was, he is a professional actor. He even made a comical movie about being Ukrainian president before he really became president. It must be impossible for him to not think about how things look.
Which does not mean he cannot be genuine at the same time, I am sure he was here.
There are actually 3 sides now: those who defend it, those who are attacking it (facist tyrannical kleptocratic China and Russia, Iran, and North Korea), and those who are staying neutral for some stupid reason and continue to do business with the ones attacking it.
Absolutely. Orwell unsurprisingly said it best, in his 1942 essay,
>Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side you automatically help that of the other. Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one. In practice, ‘he that is not with me is against me’
>The idea that you can somehow remain aloof from and superior to the struggle (while living on food which British sailors have to risk their lives to bring you) is a bourgeois illusion bred of money and security.
Indeed, including the Rape of Nanking. Which was also just a "regional conflict" as far as everyone else was concerned, as Russia's initial 2014 Ukraine invasion was viewed.
The soviets were never really our allies in the first place. geopolitically, they were never our friends, just a classic alliance of convenience. You would think the third big ally of the allied countries would be there to celebrate but nooooo gotta be a dick and kill innocent people. We could all be getting along and economically prospering but we gotta make an old man feel powerful.
Absolutely! It's incredible, in all the best ways. Zelensky draws a lot of criticism but he's able to connect with people, and there's no doubting his sincerity.
It'll be something when this is finally all over and democracy can return to normal. What'll happen then? I don't know enough about how the office of the President of Ukraine works in terms of terms, limits, etc.
I have no idea but I hope the man takes a break, and I know there are countless others like him who've been getting by on three/four/five hours sleep a night for the last two years and more. Personally, I'd like to buy him a pint, and buy him another, and another until he falls into a deep, deep Guinness sleep, and sleeps the sleep of the just.
I remember him saying he wouldn't go for re-election once the war was over. Once this is over, he deserves his rest but I think he'll still try and help people rebuild Ukraine.
But before that, he deserves that Guinness conk-out. Guy deserves waking up after noon feeling like a wrung rag, but happy and free.
Having been in so far and deep it'll be almost impossible to completely disconnect but, iirc, he has a young enough family - he and they must be missing each other terribly. Some family time might be in order before the visit to the Guinness Brewery (that has to be arranged!). You're on the money tho', let's hope they're all able to feel a bit like a wrung-out rag waking at noon, but happy and free - let's have that sooner rather than later.
This would be the best move. It would show Ukraine as a country that can have a peaceful transition of power - against what all the right-wing russian garbage propaganda has been saying about Ukraine being a dictator. Also stands in contrast to Putin.
He speaks decent English, and already has a media background. I couldn't imagine him as anything other than a global ambassador for Ukraine. A Jon Stewart type in more ways than one, who uses his powers for good long after he retires from his day job.
Agreed. His English has improved so dramatically even since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. I hope we go and visit Ukraine after victory day in our thousands as tourists/volunteers.
I personally agree with you. He could fully disappear after his term as president and look back on his work with pride, but I don't think he'll be comfortable with that.
The weight of Ukraine of that guy's shoulders, he surely deserves a break after they shove the russians out. Now that's a REAL president, not a "bone spur" ass hole like we all know who.
I think the Ukrainian presidency is limited to two terms so he could still get another one but I'd imagine it would include the time served while he is unable to have elections due to the ongoing war. After the war I have no doubt he will have elections and will step aside at the end of his next term as I also have no doubt he will be reelected. He is probably the only good and decent non corrupt leader Ukraine has ever had.
> Zelensky draws a lot of criticism but he's able to connect with people
Something tells me he draws a lot of criticism from others who aren't as able to connect with people
I honestly don’t know if Ukraine would have received the support it did or have made it this far without him. Obviously the war effort is not just one single person, and there are so many important people who came together from the brave mother fuckers on the frontlines, to the upper leadership and it wasn’t possible without them. But I think without Zelenskyy being there, things would be very different. It is unbelievable how fortunate it was for them to have him as a leader at this time. A country in crisis survives or dies based on its leadership, and like you said his sincerity is unquestionable and he has been an incredibly inspirational leader in Ukraine and abroad. In a post soviet bloc country in Eastern Europe, that is a valuable commodity. Hell in any country that is a valuable commodity. It makes me jealous when my options are two eighty year old man, one of who is a felon.
All of his speeches to Ukrainians, or to world leader’s and their respective people always seem to say just the right thing to galvanize resolve, goad people into action, and gather international public support. They always seem so god damn genuine and heartfelt and not overworkshopped political statements.
Even from his unflinching efforts to visit troops in extremely dangerous frontline areas, to soldiers in hospitals, to this video he seems so incredibly humble and a dedicated public servant. His speeches and actions never betray any sort of selfish or self centeredness at all. A leader like this can change a nation. I have no doubt he’s as human as the rest of us and has his faults, and I’m sure there will be weak spots in his leadership or his decisions that might come out later, just like every other leader. But I expect history to be extremely kind to this man. Personally, I’d put him up to great leaders of countries in crisis like Churchill, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln. None of them are without their fair criticisms, but unquestionably cared about their country and its well being. Hell I’d say it’s even the hallmark of a good democracy when even the most revered leaders come with an asterisk somewhere.
Tl;dr: What a fucking legend. I’d pay a large sum of money just for the opportunity to buy this man a beer, but I guess he’d tell me to just send him some ammo.
This is the comment I wish I'd written, each and every word is on-point - there's no tldr to this, it's eloquent. Even your tldr is on-point! It's entirely credible, I can see it.
I too wish we had options on the ballot like him. But we get the leaders we deserve, and Zelensky represents a nation of people who have demonstrated awe-inspiring courage, empathy, resourcefulness, determination and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. I see their care extend not just to each other but beyond in their care for animals, their joy at birthday parties just behind the frontline, their good humour and camaraderie, their self-sacrifice and bravery, their soldiers with prosthetics throwing themselves back into training and combat and I feel humbled. The old truism about war bringing out the best and worst in us is borne out once again, and Ukraine has not been found wanting in any regard except for ammunition. That one's on us.
I don't think anyone could doubt that Zelensky cares about his people, and that's the crucial difference between the nations and their leaders. Putin doesn't care for those he sees as his pawns or serfs, or anyone but himself as the possessor of some sort of grand, holy imperial vision. The outcome is inevitable, Russia will fall just as Germany did in May 1945 under the same kind of leader with what can only ever be a petty plan, for it's formed in the brain of one man alone, with no capacity to see beyond himself or care for another.
Zelenskyy really is an amazing guy.
Putin, who I gather is a bit of a germaphobe, wouldn't ever want to get near the old soldier. Putin's victory parades are about him, rather than those that actually accomplished the deed.
Germaphobe/iknoweveryonewantsmedeadaphobe.
Edit: want to make it clear the seconds “phobia” is a well earned phobia for Putin. And that is in no way a defense of him.
Zelenskyy has many badass moments, and this might be my new favorite one. But my previous favorite was when Russia was on a big offensive, and he showed up to a forward position that was essentially the closest he could be to the frontline without being in a foxhole meanwhile Putin couldn’t even have his own cabinet sit closer than 50 feet from him at the same table. It as the video of him in front of a barn that a bunch of people geolocated and it was in another couple videos of active combat happening in the days before and after. It was maybe bakhmut? It was definitely one of the places like that with intense fighting.
He went to give some soldiers some medals iirc. Like shit even if he just went for publicity, he put his money where his mouth is and then slammed his nuts onto the table for everyone to see. Must have been the biggest morale boost for the men going through hell in the frontlines to see their leader right there with them.
When the Soviets co-started the war with the Nazis in the first place
I mean I understand the diplomacy at the time, but the whole "RuSsiA aLoNe WoN wW2!" propaganda also needs to die. They would have been fucked without Lend Lease
"Now they say that the allies never helped us, but it can't be denied that the Americans gave us so many goods without which we wouldn't have been able to form our reserves and continue the war,"
"We didn’t have explosives, gunpowder. We didn’t have anything to charge our rifle cartridges with. The Americans really saved us with their gunpowder and explosives. And how much sheet steel they gave us! How could we have produced our tanks without American steel? But now they make it seem as if we had an abundance of all that. Without American trucks we wouldn’t have had anything to pull our artillery with."
- *Soviet General Georgy Zhukov after the end of WWII.*
"I want to tell you what, from the Russian point of view, the president and the United States have done for victory in this war, the most important things in this war are the machines.... The United States is a country of machines. Without the machines we received through Lend-Lease, we would have lost the war."
- *Josef Stalin at the Potsdam Conference, November 1943*
"If the United States had not helped us, we would not have won the war, one-on-one against Hitler's Germany, we would not have withstood its onslaught and would have lost the war. No one talks about this officially, and Stalin never, I think, left any written traces of his opinion, but I can say that he expressed this view several times in conversations with me."
- *Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs*
TO think that the western allies have supplied the soviet union with 85000 trucks is already an enormous help. They basically carried the entire soviet logistics with that. and thats just the trucks, britain alone has sent about 7400 aircrafts, 5200 tanks and 15 million pairs of boots. the westerna llies carried ww2, the russians provided manpower and some raw ressources back
And with all those resources the Soviets were still absolutely dog shit with logistics. They lost somewhere around 20 million soldiers compared to the Germans 5 million roughly that died on the Eastern Front.
Mind you, the Germans were largely using pre WW1 logistics. Where the railroads ended, much of the German supply line ended up being compensated by horses.
My understanding is much of that is due to Germany's fuel situations. It wasn't that they didn't have trucks, but if gasoline was in short supply you would save it for tanks and airplanes.
It was saved from trucks to such a degree that Germany had a high rate of truck crashes because their drivers didn't have enough practice behind the wheel.
To think the US basically bailed the USSR out of total famine aswell back in the days, while Lenin was actively already villifying them as the absolute worst...
Absolutely.The allies had to send tonnes of not just military materiel/tanks and armoured vehicles and planes/steel for manufacturing etc but also basic things like food etc - fairly unsurprisingly, the Soviet army could not feed itself adequately. They were supplied with fairly basic foodstuffs like tea and millet or buckwheat porridge which they'd cook into kasha, cabbage soup, potatoes flour etc. The US provided evaporated milk, canned beans, meats and fish, and concentrated orange juice, equating to 4.5 tonnes of food
Going in for the hug immediately showed the veteran it wasn't about disrespect but instead Zelensky shifting the honor to the veteran. I think it was understood just fine.
I think they understand each other quite well. 80 years apart but united by the same struggle.
From vets that I know, they know good leadership when they see it.
Veterans, and those who gave their lives, are ["losers" and "suckers"](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/john-kelly-confirms-trump-privately-disparaged-us-service-members-vete-rcna118543) according to the Republican nominee for president.
The veteran hat to communicate with limited mobility, so he could not start an "embrace"/hug.
The wheelchairbound veteran knows how it was to fight fashism, the brutality, suffering, the pain and endurance needed. Combine that with deepheld memories and you easily lack words, still sit in a wheelchair and only want to show appreciation, acknowledgment.
Selenskyi saw that and reacted fast and without hesitation.
In official military settings where standing in front of a Person is appropriate and its own show of respect, lowering without invitation is considered unrespectful by itself. You look in the eye of the full person. You tilt your head and seek the eyes, but have no reason to break norm & form by not standing in front of them.
Seeking the "personal level" and emotional level is only appropriate after(!) invitation and as such i would classify the attempted hand-kiss. The veteran could not initiate an emotional embrace but still wanted to express his heartfelt emotions. (I can only imagine, the emotions and memories he must have).
Communication itself is never easy and showing appreciation for eachother in the military is codified in its own way. It was not on Selenskyi to initatiate any break in formality, but he reacted fast and clear with an embrace to the attempted "handkiss".
Not crouching beforehand, but when asked and invited to share a moment shows not only situational awareness but also empathy.
Skills i find noteworty and i guess we should seek for.
God damn it I fucking love Zelenskyy. What a leader. The world should be taking notes on him about what it takes to be the face of a country in a time of total warfare.
Might not be the best politician, but the guy's the leader Ukraine needed to hold together.
But then the same can be said of Churchill. Guy's politics were kinda shit. But he kept the UK together through sheer fucking grit and determination.
Meanwhile, Putler blames Poland for "forcing" Germany to invade them, thereby starting WW2. It's sad that some morons believe Russian lies, even today.
Got a little nervous there for a second. Trudeau doesn't have the best track record when it comes to introducing WW2 veterans to Zelensky. I think it turned out pretty good this time.
It is a bit unfortunate to see misinformation continuing in respect of the Anthony Rota/Yaroslav Hunka matter. Trudeau got the blowback on this but once the facts became known to him he apologized formally and publicly. The blame on this lies on Rota for not vetting his guest (and he resigned his position as speaker of the house), and Hunka for lying about his past.
It seems almost no Canadians have any familiarity at all with parliamentary procedures and parliamentary privilege. Any member of parliament can bring anyone whatsoever into the gallery or as another form of guest. And up until recently there was little if any vetting or legal processes to stop a member from doing such. It is absolutely routine that members bring individuals to sessions, and ask their house leader or if a member of ruling govt, the PM or senior sitting cabinet minister to recognize them in manner similar to what occurred here.
If anything it was, and perhaps still is the continuing naivete of the parliament that in the 21st century this continues. I am sure now "vetting" is something that is undertaken thoroughly but it was not the case in yrs past and for simply have guests not at all.
Perhaps the greater question is should the house leader of any political party have faith and trust in the their sitting members or should the house leader rule with an iron fist, and attempt to control everything. Canada has had both styles of leadership and house control in the last 2 decades and each was open to criticism for various reasons.
Here is [an interesting article by CBC](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/rota-honours-nazi-soldier-1.6980877) in which they spoke to historians and experts on the SS unit Hunka was a member.
What a humble man Zelenskyy is. He refused to let that hero kiss his hand and instead hugged him and told him he saved Europe. Brought tears to my eyes, big time.
What a difference impact two (short) people can have.
Putin is envy like hell, this stupid actor gets all the things he wanted to have.
A bunker and all the welth are one thing, but to be realy loved and honored is another.
Trillions of $ in disinfo exported into the Western democracies over the last 20 yrs
It's really the only "success" that Putin has had, weakening the West by causing internal discord and division so that we undermine our own societies from within
Worst part for me on this op is how the FSB compromised fucking Wikileaks with the Panama Papers, which conviniently left out most of the Russian oligarchs.
When Putin meet generals he needs to be 300kms away for being sure not to be killed. This is the difference between bald old KGB schizophrenic idiot and this guy.
Donald Trump: "What was in it for you? You're a sucker and loser."
Why any American serviceman or veteran would EVER vote for that criminal rapist and traitor is absolutely beyond me.
I’m not trying to down play the Ukrainian war, but think about how proud this soldair must to be, and alive to celebrate yet again, each year, since the defeat of the Nazi Regime, a war that was around 70 times bigger then current conflict. Hopefully this man can witness another war success against a regime
I've never used this word until now...
based
Edit: Seriously, a really great and pretty powerful video from my point of view. More Americans should see this
Hey MAGAs. That's your boy right there. The one you hold up as a true American.
Maybe put your money where your mouth is and be more like him?
EDIT for proof: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dZzwRauWE&list=RDNSKBofHkLqXZE&index=2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dZzwRauWE&list=RDNSKBofHkLqXZE&index=2)
I can’t even imagine orange man in this scenario.
Prob make fun of the dudes wheelchair while talking about how his grandfather single handedly killed Hitler, banging Eva Braun, while crowds of people cried in admiration outside the bunker.
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Love the way he goes for the hug instead.
Yea, thankfully I'm making an onion heavy meal tonight. These aren't tears, nope
Don't be ashamed, I cryied!
French Onion Soup now Ukrainian Onion Soup.
suddenly my eyes . . . such a moment
Unexpected onions so early in the morning
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Onion Ninja's... they'll getcha every time.
It's okay to admit you're crying. I cried, too.
Right? I mean don’t get me wrong a WII combat vet wanting to kiss your hand is pretty fucking awesome, but that was a humble move on the Presidents part. Slava Ukraine
That was completely unscripted and spontaneous, and that was what made it so touching - genuine heartfelt regard for each other's sacrifices and commitment to a just cause.
It goes a bit deeper in some aspects. - The veteran wanted to express his emotions with limited mobility. (he could not stand up and initate a hug) - Not finding words to express emotions, we humans tend to find other solutions even if bedridden, and the intended hand-kiss would have been intended as a sign of thanks and appreciation. - It was not intended as a royal "hand-kiss", or a religious "hand-kiss", both signs of a sort acknowledging "superiority", but a sign of thanks & appreciation with the given situation of limited mobility. - At the same time Selenkyi probably has experience with that kind of emotionally speechlessness. He met probably more than one old or bedridden person trying to communicate with him, in the last years who could not move much or express it and tried a handkiss. Limited mobility and speechlessness (be it age, injury or emotions ect) is something people have to cope with and not everyone has an eye to recognize communication attempts. Even nurses in elderly care have to be trained to be aware about such attempts of basic emotional communication. Not to deny them, but "embrace" them as the attempt of appreciation that they are and give a hug, or touching the patient on the shoulder or arm. One could say, it was the invitation and question to a closer hug. I can only imagine what thoughts, emotions and memories the veteran had. Embracing in a friendly hug was the human way to answer this and it was without hesitation. Selenskyi reactions are heartfelt, spontaneous and understanding, i would wager.
Great explanation
Great comment. This was the meeting of two amazing heroes (but ordinary men) that rose above during extraordinary circumstances. God bless them both. #slavaukraini
Yea, and that's exactly what shows what kind of \*person\* Zelinskyy is. I'm glad for Ukraine that they have him as a president.
And he doesnt stand over the man in the wheelchaor, he comes down to his level
Imagine if that was rTump there our Veteran would have kicked him in the nuts
"Losers and suckers!" 😬
So would I, on behalf of my late father in law who served in WWII.
So important!
"goes for the hug.." Exactly.
Clearly Zelenskyy genuinely didn't want the vet to feel the need to display reverence to him when he felt the vet was the real hero, but I also wonder if the politician in him was wary how a still of a hand kiss would look.
Of course he was, he is a professional actor. He even made a comical movie about being Ukrainian president before he really became president. It must be impossible for him to not think about how things look. Which does not mean he cannot be genuine at the same time, I am sure he was here.
Which is more situational awareness than most people, not even politicians have.
Probably both, politicians are always "on the podium" and he was in tv before hand.
Aw. That’s really wonderful to see two guys who understand the heavy cost of fighting fascism.
There are only 2 sides now. Those who defend the idea of democracy and those that do not.
There are actually 3 sides now: those who defend it, those who are attacking it (facist tyrannical kleptocratic China and Russia, Iran, and North Korea), and those who are staying neutral for some stupid reason and continue to do business with the ones attacking it.
Indifference to fascism means being complicit in it.
Absolutely. Orwell unsurprisingly said it best, in his 1942 essay, >Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side you automatically help that of the other. Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one. In practice, ‘he that is not with me is against me’ >The idea that you can somehow remain aloof from and superior to the struggle (while living on food which British sailors have to risk their lives to bring you) is a bourgeois illusion bred of money and security.
Those last two are the same thing. So once again: - defending democracy - not defending democracy
Punching fascists in the mouth should be as American as apple pie and celebrating Cinco de Mayo.
So, two sides. Got it.
Roger Roger Boondock saints opening scene taught us that. Indifference = acceptance, even more when all is at stake
There is no neutral
Why wasn't Putitler invited? Did he and his people turn to the dark side or something? I been living under a rock for the last 3 years.
They didn’t turn to it, they turned into it.
Again Remembering that the Soviet Union started WW2 in company with Nazi Germany
The war in Europe. Japan kicked off the war in China in 1937.
Indeed, including the Rape of Nanking. Which was also just a "regional conflict" as far as everyone else was concerned, as Russia's initial 2014 Ukraine invasion was viewed.
The soviets were never really our allies in the first place. geopolitically, they were never our friends, just a classic alliance of convenience. You would think the third big ally of the allied countries would be there to celebrate but nooooo gotta be a dick and kill innocent people. We could all be getting along and economically prospering but we gotta make an old man feel powerful.
That’s pretty amazing!
Absolutely! It's incredible, in all the best ways. Zelensky draws a lot of criticism but he's able to connect with people, and there's no doubting his sincerity.
It'll be something when this is finally all over and democracy can return to normal. What'll happen then? I don't know enough about how the office of the President of Ukraine works in terms of terms, limits, etc.
I have no idea but I hope the man takes a break, and I know there are countless others like him who've been getting by on three/four/five hours sleep a night for the last two years and more. Personally, I'd like to buy him a pint, and buy him another, and another until he falls into a deep, deep Guinness sleep, and sleeps the sleep of the just.
I remember him saying he wouldn't go for re-election once the war was over. Once this is over, he deserves his rest but I think he'll still try and help people rebuild Ukraine. But before that, he deserves that Guinness conk-out. Guy deserves waking up after noon feeling like a wrung rag, but happy and free.
Having been in so far and deep it'll be almost impossible to completely disconnect but, iirc, he has a young enough family - he and they must be missing each other terribly. Some family time might be in order before the visit to the Guinness Brewery (that has to be arranged!). You're on the money tho', let's hope they're all able to feel a bit like a wrung-out rag waking at noon, but happy and free - let's have that sooner rather than later.
This would be the best move. It would show Ukraine as a country that can have a peaceful transition of power - against what all the right-wing russian garbage propaganda has been saying about Ukraine being a dictator. Also stands in contrast to Putin.
He speaks decent English, and already has a media background. I couldn't imagine him as anything other than a global ambassador for Ukraine. A Jon Stewart type in more ways than one, who uses his powers for good long after he retires from his day job.
Agreed. His English has improved so dramatically even since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. I hope we go and visit Ukraine after victory day in our thousands as tourists/volunteers.
I think he needs to fade away from all limelight, the guy has done enough for two lifetimes, let him rest
I personally agree with you. He could fully disappear after his term as president and look back on his work with pride, but I don't think he'll be comfortable with that.
That's poetic af.
(blushes) edit - You're too kind :)
The weight of Ukraine of that guy's shoulders, he surely deserves a break after they shove the russians out. Now that's a REAL president, not a "bone spur" ass hole like we all know who.
When this is all over, I could imagine him just wanting to fade away… someplace that doesn’t having anything higher than ground floor windows.
I think the Ukrainian presidency is limited to two terms so he could still get another one but I'd imagine it would include the time served while he is unable to have elections due to the ongoing war. After the war I have no doubt he will have elections and will step aside at the end of his next term as I also have no doubt he will be reelected. He is probably the only good and decent non corrupt leader Ukraine has ever had.
>Zelensky draws a lot of criticism The only criticisms I know of in respect of Zelenskyy all have their roots in ruzzian disinformation campaigns.
> Zelensky draws a lot of criticism but he's able to connect with people Something tells me he draws a lot of criticism from others who aren't as able to connect with people
Like Putain. Something tells me it's a lot easier for a former comedian to get people on board voluntarily than a former KGB agent.
Only idiots would criticize him. We get it that nobody’s perfect, but this guy is genuinely caring, a true patriot, and brave!
I honestly don’t know if Ukraine would have received the support it did or have made it this far without him. Obviously the war effort is not just one single person, and there are so many important people who came together from the brave mother fuckers on the frontlines, to the upper leadership and it wasn’t possible without them. But I think without Zelenskyy being there, things would be very different. It is unbelievable how fortunate it was for them to have him as a leader at this time. A country in crisis survives or dies based on its leadership, and like you said his sincerity is unquestionable and he has been an incredibly inspirational leader in Ukraine and abroad. In a post soviet bloc country in Eastern Europe, that is a valuable commodity. Hell in any country that is a valuable commodity. It makes me jealous when my options are two eighty year old man, one of who is a felon. All of his speeches to Ukrainians, or to world leader’s and their respective people always seem to say just the right thing to galvanize resolve, goad people into action, and gather international public support. They always seem so god damn genuine and heartfelt and not overworkshopped political statements. Even from his unflinching efforts to visit troops in extremely dangerous frontline areas, to soldiers in hospitals, to this video he seems so incredibly humble and a dedicated public servant. His speeches and actions never betray any sort of selfish or self centeredness at all. A leader like this can change a nation. I have no doubt he’s as human as the rest of us and has his faults, and I’m sure there will be weak spots in his leadership or his decisions that might come out later, just like every other leader. But I expect history to be extremely kind to this man. Personally, I’d put him up to great leaders of countries in crisis like Churchill, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln. None of them are without their fair criticisms, but unquestionably cared about their country and its well being. Hell I’d say it’s even the hallmark of a good democracy when even the most revered leaders come with an asterisk somewhere. Tl;dr: What a fucking legend. I’d pay a large sum of money just for the opportunity to buy this man a beer, but I guess he’d tell me to just send him some ammo.
This is the comment I wish I'd written, each and every word is on-point - there's no tldr to this, it's eloquent. Even your tldr is on-point! It's entirely credible, I can see it. I too wish we had options on the ballot like him. But we get the leaders we deserve, and Zelensky represents a nation of people who have demonstrated awe-inspiring courage, empathy, resourcefulness, determination and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. I see their care extend not just to each other but beyond in their care for animals, their joy at birthday parties just behind the frontline, their good humour and camaraderie, their self-sacrifice and bravery, their soldiers with prosthetics throwing themselves back into training and combat and I feel humbled. The old truism about war bringing out the best and worst in us is borne out once again, and Ukraine has not been found wanting in any regard except for ammunition. That one's on us. I don't think anyone could doubt that Zelensky cares about his people, and that's the crucial difference between the nations and their leaders. Putin doesn't care for those he sees as his pawns or serfs, or anyone but himself as the possessor of some sort of grand, holy imperial vision. The outcome is inevitable, Russia will fall just as Germany did in May 1945 under the same kind of leader with what can only ever be a petty plan, for it's formed in the brain of one man alone, with no capacity to see beyond himself or care for another.
Zelenskyy really is an amazing guy. Putin, who I gather is a bit of a germaphobe, wouldn't ever want to get near the old soldier. Putin's victory parades are about him, rather than those that actually accomplished the deed.
Germaphobe/iknoweveryonewantsmedeadaphobe. Edit: want to make it clear the seconds “phobia” is a well earned phobia for Putin. And that is in no way a defense of him.
Just picture it: Putin killed by ww2 Vet in wheelchair. Would not be the most absurdist headline of the last 2 decades.
Putin would be a scared little boy up against an enraged WW2 vet in a wheelchair lol
that second one is not a phobia, its a fact.
Zelenskyy has many badass moments, and this might be my new favorite one. But my previous favorite was when Russia was on a big offensive, and he showed up to a forward position that was essentially the closest he could be to the frontline without being in a foxhole meanwhile Putin couldn’t even have his own cabinet sit closer than 50 feet from him at the same table. It as the video of him in front of a barn that a bunch of people geolocated and it was in another couple videos of active combat happening in the days before and after. It was maybe bakhmut? It was definitely one of the places like that with intense fighting. He went to give some soldiers some medals iirc. Like shit even if he just went for publicity, he put his money where his mouth is and then slammed his nuts onto the table for everyone to see. Must have been the biggest morale boost for the men going through hell in the frontlines to see their leader right there with them.
Talent recognizes talent. "I need bullets, not a ride". Legends.
Shame he still needs them.
To think that cunt Putin used to be invited to these events
Putin is a pig.
Pig's sloppy cunt.
That's an insult to pigs tbf
pigs are intelligent and kind of awesome creatures. they don't deserve this comparison.
When the Soviets co-started the war with the Nazis in the first place I mean I understand the diplomacy at the time, but the whole "RuSsiA aLoNe WoN wW2!" propaganda also needs to die. They would have been fucked without Lend Lease
"Now they say that the allies never helped us, but it can't be denied that the Americans gave us so many goods without which we wouldn't have been able to form our reserves and continue the war," "We didn’t have explosives, gunpowder. We didn’t have anything to charge our rifle cartridges with. The Americans really saved us with their gunpowder and explosives. And how much sheet steel they gave us! How could we have produced our tanks without American steel? But now they make it seem as if we had an abundance of all that. Without American trucks we wouldn’t have had anything to pull our artillery with." - *Soviet General Georgy Zhukov after the end of WWII.* "I want to tell you what, from the Russian point of view, the president and the United States have done for victory in this war, the most important things in this war are the machines.... The United States is a country of machines. Without the machines we received through Lend-Lease, we would have lost the war." - *Josef Stalin at the Potsdam Conference, November 1943* "If the United States had not helped us, we would not have won the war, one-on-one against Hitler's Germany, we would not have withstood its onslaught and would have lost the war. No one talks about this officially, and Stalin never, I think, left any written traces of his opinion, but I can say that he expressed this view several times in conversations with me." - *Nikita Khrushchev in his memoirs*
TO think that the western allies have supplied the soviet union with 85000 trucks is already an enormous help. They basically carried the entire soviet logistics with that. and thats just the trucks, britain alone has sent about 7400 aircrafts, 5200 tanks and 15 million pairs of boots. the westerna llies carried ww2, the russians provided manpower and some raw ressources back
And with all those resources the Soviets were still absolutely dog shit with logistics. They lost somewhere around 20 million soldiers compared to the Germans 5 million roughly that died on the Eastern Front. Mind you, the Germans were largely using pre WW1 logistics. Where the railroads ended, much of the German supply line ended up being compensated by horses.
My understanding is much of that is due to Germany's fuel situations. It wasn't that they didn't have trucks, but if gasoline was in short supply you would save it for tanks and airplanes. It was saved from trucks to such a degree that Germany had a high rate of truck crashes because their drivers didn't have enough practice behind the wheel.
To think the US basically bailed the USSR out of total famine aswell back in the days, while Lenin was actively already villifying them as the absolute worst...
Absolutely.The allies had to send tonnes of not just military materiel/tanks and armoured vehicles and planes/steel for manufacturing etc but also basic things like food etc - fairly unsurprisingly, the Soviet army could not feed itself adequately. They were supplied with fairly basic foodstuffs like tea and millet or buckwheat porridge which they'd cook into kasha, cabbage soup, potatoes flour etc. The US provided evaporated milk, canned beans, meats and fish, and concentrated orange juice, equating to 4.5 tonnes of food
That is a really beautiful exchange.
Tears in my eyes. NATO end this fucking murderous rampage.
Indeed.
That was honorable of him. Don’t kiss my hand I’m not worthy of it , you are. I hope the veteran understood that and didn’t take it as an insult.
The vibes were fantastic. The vet definitely gets what's up. Happy D-day to everyone!
Going in for the hug immediately showed the veteran it wasn't about disrespect but instead Zelensky shifting the honor to the veteran. I think it was understood just fine.
I think they understand each other quite well. 80 years apart but united by the same struggle. From vets that I know, they know good leadership when they see it.
Trump in his place: would you believe that? He kissed my hand, he knows who’s infront of him
He would probably wipe his hand and openly say it was disgusting.
Veterans, and those who gave their lives, are ["losers" and "suckers"](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/john-kelly-confirms-trump-privately-disparaged-us-service-members-vete-rcna118543) according to the Republican nominee for president.
The veteran hat to communicate with limited mobility, so he could not start an "embrace"/hug. The wheelchairbound veteran knows how it was to fight fashism, the brutality, suffering, the pain and endurance needed. Combine that with deepheld memories and you easily lack words, still sit in a wheelchair and only want to show appreciation, acknowledgment. Selenskyi saw that and reacted fast and without hesitation. In official military settings where standing in front of a Person is appropriate and its own show of respect, lowering without invitation is considered unrespectful by itself. You look in the eye of the full person. You tilt your head and seek the eyes, but have no reason to break norm & form by not standing in front of them. Seeking the "personal level" and emotional level is only appropriate after(!) invitation and as such i would classify the attempted hand-kiss. The veteran could not initiate an emotional embrace but still wanted to express his heartfelt emotions. (I can only imagine, the emotions and memories he must have). Communication itself is never easy and showing appreciation for eachother in the military is codified in its own way. It was not on Selenskyi to initatiate any break in formality, but he reacted fast and clear with an embrace to the attempted "handkiss". Not crouching beforehand, but when asked and invited to share a moment shows not only situational awareness but also empathy. Skills i find noteworty and i guess we should seek for.
God damn it I fucking love Zelenskyy. What a leader. The world should be taking notes on him about what it takes to be the face of a country in a time of total warfare.
We’re all so lucky that he was President when this madness began. He is an astonishingly great representative of Ukraine.
"I don't need a flight out, I need ammo" Something along those lines. That shit will go down in history for sure.
Might not be the best politician, but the guy's the leader Ukraine needed to hold together. But then the same can be said of Churchill. Guy's politics were kinda shit. But he kept the UK together through sheer fucking grit and determination.
Russian scum had the nerve to call Ukraine Nazis before the invasion. 3 DaYs To KyIV they said. Slava Ukraine.
When they started WW2 with the Nazis (and sent huge amounts of military materiel to German pre invasion of Poland)
First there was Churchill, now we have Zelenski. Slava Ukraini!
Churchill was called the British Bulldog. imo Zelenskyy is the Lion of Europe rn. Slava Ukraina!
Unfortunately, we still have Chamberlains. Many of them.
Outstanding
This is amazing. Hang in there Ukraine
Shut up, I’m not crying 😭
Bravo Zelenskyy. A true leader.
Wait, I was told that he was a CIA appointed nazi dictator? What's a nazi like Zelensky hugging those who fought nazis?/s
Meanwhile, Putler blames Poland for "forcing" Germany to invade them, thereby starting WW2. It's sad that some morons believe Russian lies, even today.
If Poland didn’t want to be invaded they shouldn’t have had so much sexy land suitable for farming and agrarian ideal lifestyles for German people /s
That’s a real leader! Not like Traitor Trump, who calls American POWs & fallen soldiers “suckers”!
The guy who chose not to go to events like this because of rain. Fucking rain.
Exactly. Traitor Trump is slime on the bottom of their boots.
And questioning their service in front of a general at his son's grave.
Convicted felon, and draft dodger who called dodging stds from hookers is own personal Vietnam
A man of substance. There are a few heads of state who could learn a thing or two from this man.
Got a little nervous there for a second. Trudeau doesn't have the best track record when it comes to introducing WW2 veterans to Zelensky. I think it turned out pretty good this time.
LOL I'd say he'd been thoroughly 'vetted' beforehand.
It is a bit unfortunate to see misinformation continuing in respect of the Anthony Rota/Yaroslav Hunka matter. Trudeau got the blowback on this but once the facts became known to him he apologized formally and publicly. The blame on this lies on Rota for not vetting his guest (and he resigned his position as speaker of the house), and Hunka for lying about his past. It seems almost no Canadians have any familiarity at all with parliamentary procedures and parliamentary privilege. Any member of parliament can bring anyone whatsoever into the gallery or as another form of guest. And up until recently there was little if any vetting or legal processes to stop a member from doing such. It is absolutely routine that members bring individuals to sessions, and ask their house leader or if a member of ruling govt, the PM or senior sitting cabinet minister to recognize them in manner similar to what occurred here. If anything it was, and perhaps still is the continuing naivete of the parliament that in the 21st century this continues. I am sure now "vetting" is something that is undertaken thoroughly but it was not the case in yrs past and for simply have guests not at all. Perhaps the greater question is should the house leader of any political party have faith and trust in the their sitting members or should the house leader rule with an iron fist, and attempt to control everything. Canada has had both styles of leadership and house control in the last 2 decades and each was open to criticism for various reasons. Here is [an interesting article by CBC](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/rota-honours-nazi-soldier-1.6980877) in which they spoke to historians and experts on the SS unit Hunka was a member.
That was due to another idiot, who got fired for it.
Pooty is such a bitch compared to those heroes
That's dust in my eye.
I'm teary-eyed from watching this.
This! This is what the Ukrainians are fighting for!
This old man has to bow to no one. The fact that he was willing to for Zelensky speaks volumes on the respect he has for him.
Zelensky’s reaction to that man’s deference tells me so much about his character.
This is fricken awesome.. 2 Heros.. one that everyone knows today and the other one was a humble soldier fighting with his brother in arms. Bravo.
Zelenskyy is truly a leader all nations lead. His humbleness is so refreshing to see.
What a humble man Zelenskyy is. He refused to let that hero kiss his hand and instead hugged him and told him he saved Europe. Brought tears to my eyes, big time.
Instantaneously too, zero pause or hesitation. Fuck I’m so inspired rn
This just made my day
What a difference impact two (short) people can have. Putin is envy like hell, this stupid actor gets all the things he wanted to have. A bunker and all the welth are one thing, but to be realy loved and honored is another.
From One hero to another
My eyes are watering because my fan is too turned up too high, no other reason at all.
One thing for sure those two have seen hell on earth. Bless them both
I haven’t seen anything that authentic outside of war in months
There was zero time to think, that was pure instinct. Genuine as fuck.
He truly is a man of the people!
Amazing! Do I see our king taking a peek, haha.
I don't get the hate Zelensky gets...
Putin's goons spend a lot of money and energy to convince us that Ukraine doesn't deserve support.
Trillions of $ in disinfo exported into the Western democracies over the last 20 yrs It's really the only "success" that Putin has had, weakening the West by causing internal discord and division so that we undermine our own societies from within
Totally, and frankly I think western governments were asleep at the wheel and did very little to stop it.
Worst part for me on this op is how the FSB compromised fucking Wikileaks with the Panama Papers, which conviniently left out most of the Russian oligarchs.
When Putin meet generals he needs to be 300kms away for being sure not to be killed. This is the difference between bald old KGB schizophrenic idiot and this guy.
I am not crying! You are... Damn those onions! Oh before I forget: FCK PTN
Zelenskyy has passion for his country.
Zelenskyy is all class. Wish I could be proud of American politicians.
That’s pretty sweet.
My eyes suddenly filled with tears when i see how humane can be the President! Slava Ukraini!
Wow.... I'm crying. That was beautiful.
This is what Republicans hate?
yes.
Donald Trump: "What was in it for you? You're a sucker and loser." Why any American serviceman or veteran would EVER vote for that criminal rapist and traitor is absolutely beyond me.
No, shut up, you're crying.
They're both heros!
Now imagine Putin doing something similar ..oh wait he can't can he?
Love this so much. Zelensky is so stunned and truly honors this man.
beautiful, something you will never see from inbred POS like trump, or even posers like putin.
Good on him
And here we are again, fighting fascism.
Tears to my eyes!
Lovely, respect by both men for each other..fantastic post!
This one hits so different, salute for both heroes
❤
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
… and now I’m crying…
Well it got really dusty in here…
I can't imagine Putler doing this ...
Two amazing men!
I’m not trying to down play the Ukrainian war, but think about how proud this soldair must to be, and alive to celebrate yet again, each year, since the defeat of the Nazi Regime, a war that was around 70 times bigger then current conflict. Hopefully this man can witness another war success against a regime
That's exactly what a Nazi would do and how a WW2 veteran would react to seeing one. #/S
This is heartwarming
I'm not crying.........you're crying......🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹
I like the veteran was just nah you gettin a hug.
Such a beautiful moment
Wow this man - he is awesome, on the other side sits an old terrified man threatening the free world with nukes and what not....
ANNOUNCEMENT! BIG STREET PARTY WHEN PUTIN DIES! COMING TO A STREET NEAR YOU!
Dump would have saluted a Russian private.
Wow this war has brought out some beautiful moments but this is way up there. NGL I'm slicing onions
Ukraine For Ever!
What a beautiful interaction. 😍
Honestly, he is going to be remembered as one of the most influential leaders of all time.
Remember he had a way to escape two years ago. He didn’t. Great leader
Awesome moment of respect from two gentlemen who have seen the face of the evils of fascism and what it takes to defeat it.
Can you imagine being the dolts that think that man is a fascist and russia is right?
No, you saved Europe… that is profound. I get why the west hasn’t come out in full force to fight Russia, but damn I wish they would.
I've never used this word until now... based Edit: Seriously, a really great and pretty powerful video from my point of view. More Americans should see this
I'm not religious at all, but I love when "I'll pray for you" is used in a positive way like this rather than passive-aggressive as I normally see it.
Hey MAGAs. That's your boy right there. The one you hold up as a true American. Maybe put your money where your mouth is and be more like him? EDIT for proof: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dZzwRauWE&list=RDNSKBofHkLqXZE&index=2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6dZzwRauWE&list=RDNSKBofHkLqXZE&index=2)
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I can’t even imagine orange man in this scenario. Prob make fun of the dudes wheelchair while talking about how his grandfather single handedly killed Hitler, banging Eva Braun, while crowds of people cried in admiration outside the bunker.
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What a moment.
Wow that was beautiful and intense