Time to Overthrow Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just criticized his western "Allies" for unhinged and hysterical statements that serve do little but stoke panic.

He's right, of course.  (Cue the National Endowment for Democracy starting another color revolution)

While Russia is clearly attempting to influence events in The Ukraine and NATO, and has redeployed troops with an eye toward this, the idea that they can stage a full-scale invasion, the frantic exhortations of, "Any day now," is more about protecting the profits of Lockheed-Martin than the immediate threat. (Russia's current redeployment is several hundred thousand light for a takeover of the country, or even just going to the Oskil River)

So, the Germans think that we are too bellicose, the French think that we are arrogant, and the Ukrainians think that we are blowing things out of proportion:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday criticized Western nations, including the United States, for their handling of Russia’s military buildup at his border, taking aim at his most important security partners as his own military braced for a potential attack.

The 44-year-old leader faulted the West for waiting to impose more damaging sanctions on Moscow — “that’s not the way to do it,” Zelensky said — while assailing decisions by the United States, Britain and Australia to withdraw some embassy staff and families, and accusing Western leaders of inciting “panic” with repeated suggestions that an invasion was imminent.

………

As his country takes in billions of dollars of economic and military assistance from the West, Zelensky expressed frustration with the public assessments made by the United States and other allies who believe an incursion is increasingly likely, and he appeared to criticize President Biden directly for statements earlier this week indicating Russian forces could advance on Ukraine as soon as next month.

“These signals have come even from respected world leaders, who speak openly and with undiplomatic language. They say simply ‘tomorrow there will be war.’ This is panic,” he said.

Zelensky’s criticisms have rankled and confused U.S. officials, who have tried to project an image of Western unity in support of Ukraine. Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops along with tanks and heavy artillery across large sections of the border while denying any intention to invade. Zelensky said satellite imagery alone was not sufficient to assess the Kremlin’s objectives.

I expect to start seeing negative stories about Zelensky in the US press from, "Intelligence sources speaking on the condition of anonymity," any day now.

The Ukrainian President is correct though:  The statements by elements of the US state security and foreign policy apparatus have been needlessly alarmist and provocative.