Zelenskyy comes to Washington looking for unexpected new friends
By Grant Colby · Reporting from Amarillo ·
If you read enough history—and I mean enough history, watching how empires rise and fall on the strength of their own ledger books—you learn that genuine power does not come from…
The Great Diplomatic Tour of the Supplicant Leader
If you read enough history—and I mean enough history, watching how empires rise and fall on the strength of their own ledger books—you learn that genuine power does not come from endless rounds of international flattery. It comes from industrial capacity, a disciplined military, and a commitment to principles that don't change when the aid pipeline slows down. President Zelenskyy’s recent whirlwind tour confirms this suspicion: he is on a relentless diplomatic campaign, seeking external validation and promises of continued support rather than cementing internal self-reliance.
Promises Made in Foreign Capitals
The evidence of this dependency was starkly laid out during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Portsmouth. According to apnews.com, Zelenskyy spoke glowingly of the partnership, but the subtext is clear: he needs guarantees. When Burnham declared that "we are with Ukraine 100%," it sounds like a victory speech, but for those who understand geopolitics, it reads like an expensive insurance policy being purchased on credit. The discussions about joint drone projects and ballistic missile interceptors—vital, yes—are the hallmarks of a state perpetually looking over its shoulder, needing foreign hands to fill gaps that should be filled by domestic enterprise.
When Internal Politics Undermine National Defense
This external begging is only compounded by the visible chaos at home. The reporting from cnbc.com details a profound power struggle: Zelenskyy dismissing army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and subsequently maneuvering former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov back into government, amid protests in several Ukrainian cities. This isn't the steady hand of a wartime leader; it is the frantic shuffling of pieces on a chessboard that is already collapsing. A nation fighting an existential war cannot afford to have its top military posts decided by political theater and public outcry.
The Shadow of External Great Power Support
This pattern—the reliance on external patrons to sustain resistance against overwhelming aggression—is nothing new, nor should it be mistaken for strategic sophistication. It echoes the mechanics of the Korean War. In that conflict, South Korea’s ability to resist was fundamentally predicated upon the mobilization of massive external great power support from the United Nations Command. The shared mechanism is undeniable: a local state resisting an adversarial bloc requires the continuous infusion of foreign military and economic muscle. While this may provide temporary deterrence, it does not build lasting sovereignty. True strength, as I’ve always maintained, comes when the nation can stand on its own two feet—energy independent, militarily robust, and free from the whims of international committee votes.
Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts are a desperate appeal to established powers for continued material support, while his internal governance struggles reveal deep fractures. The moment Ukraine’s survival becomes wholly dependent on Washington or London writing another check, its strategic autonomy—and ultimately, its long-term security—is compromised.