Zelenskyy, New Global Leader, Fortunately Takes the Relay Baton from Trump

“Leaders aren't born, they are made. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal which is worthwhile:” Vince Lombardi.

It took Russia’s latest war against Ukraine to transform the vast majority of Ukrainians into patriots, the ambush in the Oval Office, and this year’s conference in Davos to propel President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine to their rightful pinnacles among the free nations and leaders of the world.

That belief is circulating today among opinion makers, thought leaders, and influencers.

Over the years, I have enunciated that the free world is in dire need of a new leader, one who knows his or her place in the political and ideological timeline of mankind and isn’t afraid to defend kindred nations against the single evil enemy – Russia. In an earlier blog in the wake of the 2026 Davos conference, I wrote: “There’s a New Global Leader in the Room: Zelenskyy.”

Since the war began in February 2022, Ukraine, then a definite underdog that didn’t have the numbers or cards as President Donald Trump insisted derisively to defend itself against mightier Russia, today has the skills, personnel, equipment, and track record to convince the international community that it can at least force Moscow into its defensive stalemate.

This historical achievement, by the latest second mightiest army in the world, was the hard effort and price that Zelenskyy paid to reach this goal.

Columnist David French, in his column on May 2, 2026, appropriately called “Meet the New Leader of the Free World,” wrote: “A remark­able thing has happened on the world’s bat­tle­fields. Ukraine – a nation that was sup­posed to dis­solve within days of a Rus­sian inva­sion – has fought Rus­sia to a stale­mate, revo­lu­tion­iz­ing land war­fare in the pro­cess. It has become an indis­pens­able secur­ity part­ner in the west­ern alli­ance, includ­ing in the war against Iran.

Now, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Pres­id­ent, is tak­ing the next step, one that would have been unthink­able even as recently as 2024. By word and deed, he is show­ing Europe and the world how the post-Amer­ican free world can pre­serve its liberty and inde­pend­ence. This is what hap­pens when, as Phil­lips Payson O’Brien wrote in a piece for The Atlantic, ‘Kyiv appears to have given up on the United States.’”

French ominously summed this up by writing: “If that is true, it may be worse news for the United States than it is for Ukraine.”

Gone are the derogatory quips about the lack of Ukraine’s battlefield prowess and antiquated weapons. French noted: “It is no longer accur­ate to think of Ukraine as a des­per­ate under­dog; it is becom­ing an inde­pend­ent power. Even as it fights for its life against Rus­sia, it is reportedly reach­ing defense deals with the Gulf states and with the United States – and this time it’s Ukraine that’s provid­ing mil­it­ary assist­ance.”

Ukrainian drones have undeniably signaled to all observers that its military-industrial expertise, developed an accurate, deadly aerial device that can travel some 1,000 kilometers and destroy its target deep in Russia that is better than world class. News reports indicated that Ukraine’s drones have shaken Russia to the core. A Russian-language notice on the web urged local residents to pack up and leave for their own safety.

I have previously argued that Ukraine is the most fitting country to join the ranks of NATO because the anti-Russian alliance can certainly benefit from its skills. French also drew attention to this: “The largest and most battle-hardened land force in the west­ern world may be the Ukrain­ian Army. The Atlantic Coun­cil estim­ated in 2025 that Ukraine had roughly a mil­lion men and women under arms, the vast major­ity of whom serve in the ground forces.”

As President Donald Trump is cutting off his nose to spite his face on the global stage, President Zelenskyy is building allies and alliances that can be used as a legitimate and practical bulwark against Russian aggression.

At a time when America’s traditional European allies publicly doubt Washington's commitment to their safety and security, President Zelenskyy has composed a significant defensive and battle plan not only to protect Europe but also to defend specifically against Russia’s aggression.

Alluding to his recent calls for the establishment of a European army, Zelenskyy said at the Davos conference: “Europe needs to know how to defend itself.” He continued: “Next point. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it again: Europe needs united armed forces – forces that can truly defend Europe. Today, Europe relies only on the belief that if danger comes, NATO will act. But no one has really seen the Alliance in action. If Putin decides to take Lithuania or strike Poland, who will respond? Who will respond?”

Furthermore, the danger posed by imperial Russia is enhanced by a clear boundary like the one enjoyed by the United States. “Let’s not forget – there’s no ocean separating European countries from Russia. And European leaders should remember this – battles involving North Korean soldiers are now happening in places geographically closer to Davos than to Pyongyang,” he said.

French showed how European nations are preparing to defend themselves against Russian aggression in case Washington backs down. He pointed out that Zelenskyy has pro­posed a new defense arrange­ment for Europe — an alli­ance between E.U. nations, plus non-E.U. powers like the United King­dom, Nor­way, Tur­key and Ukraine. That scenario resembles my suggestion that the former captive nations should form their own alliance based on the wartime Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations. After all, Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine have already formed their own military and political alliance.

According to French, Zelenskyy is indeed his own protagonist, garnering the support not only of European nations and their leaders but, more importantly, his own nation. It has been said that when Russian soldiers crossed the border into Ukraine, Putin immediately united the nation. Men, women and children, professionals and craftsmen, youth and adults, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Protestants, Muslims, city dwellers and farmers – all became Ukrainians united in a singular mission – defeat and expel the aggressor.

French also recognized this: “His­tory has its hinge points, and here is one: On Feb­ru­ary 25, 2022, Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video from Kyiv. He told the people of Ukraine that the gov­ern­ment has not fled to safety in the west and that it inten­ded to stand and fight.

“‘We are here,’ Zelenskyy said. ‘We are in Kyiv. We are pro­tect­ing Ukraine.’

“When I vis­ited Ukraine in 2023, I spoke to Ukrain­ian sol­diers who told me that state­ment sent a jolt of elec­tri­city through Ukrain­ian lines. From that moment, they knew they would not sur­render.

“In hind­sight, that decision hasn’t just changed the course of Ukrain­ian his­tory. Its effects are extend­ing across the globe.”

As America’s sun is setting thanks to the misguided, jingoistic policies of Donald J. Trump and his team that will not benefit America, Europe, and Ukraine, it is fortunate that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine are on the front lines.

“For the first time in my adult life, the moral and stra­tegic heart of the defense of lib­eral demo­cracy doesn’t beat in Wash­ing­ton. It doesn’t beat in Paris or Ber­lin or Ott­awa, either. It’s in Kyiv, where a cour­ageous leader and a cour­ageous people have picked up the torch Amer­ica has dropped.” Freeman concluded.

Russia Escalates Terror: Second Day of Mass Drone and Missile Strikes Targets All of Ukraine

Following a devastating wave of attacks on May 13, Russia launched an even more massive assault on May 14, firing more than 800 drones and missiles within a 24-hour period. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the onslaught as a “deliberate terrorist tactic,” calculated to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and strike civilian infrastructure at a scale unseen since the start of the full-scale invasion more than four years ago.

A Nation Under Fire

The statistics from the Ukrainian Air Force tell a harrowing story of asymmetrical warfare. Of the 1,567 drones and 56 missiles launched over the past 48 hours, Ukrainian defenses achieved a 94% intercept rate for drones but only 7% for ballistic missiles.

“This is a deliberate terrorist tactic,” Zelenskyy stated, noting that a Kh-101 missile which struck a residential building in Kyiv was manufactured as recently as the second quarter of 2026. This suggests that despite international sanctions, Moscow continues to import critical components for its death machine.

The Human Toll: From Kyiv to the Borders of NATO

The carnage was widespread, affecting nearly every oblast:

Kyiv: A residential building in the Darnytskyi district partially collapsed, killing at least 12 people, including two children. Rescuers continue to clear debris with more than 10 people still missing.

Western Ukraine: In a move that prompted Budapest to summon the Russian ambassador, hundreds of drones targeted regions closest to NATO borders. Hits were recorded in Zakarpattia (the first such massive attack on Uzhhorod), Lviv, Volyn, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

Ternopil & Central Ukraine: Drones entering from the Black Sea targeted Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernivtsi. In Rivne, three people were killed when a drone struck a home.

Southern Front: In Kherson, a “double-tap” strike injured emergency responders, while 27 civilians were wounded in attacks on public transport.

Dnipropetrovsk: Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported eight fatalities, with teenagers among the wounded and critical gas infrastructure damaged.

Political Shifting Gears in Washington

While Ukraine bleeds, the political landscape in Washington, D.C., is seeing a rare moment of movement. Supporters of a new aid bill reached a critical threshold on May 13, gathering 218 signatures on a discharge petition led by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY). This move bypasses Republican leadership to force a House vote. Notably, the petition gained the final required signature from Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA).

In a surprising turn, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently characterized Ukraine’s Armed Forces as the “strongest, most powerful” military in Europe, highlighting Ukraine’s development of “hybrid asymmetrical warfare.” However, the absence of an official condemnation of these latest strikes from President Donald Trump remains a point of deep concern for Ukrainian American voters and long-time supporters of Ukrainian independence.

Weakness in Moscow

The scale of the terror in Ukraine stands in stark contrast to the "subdued" atmosphere in Moscow. British Defense Intelligence observed that Russia’s 2026 Victory Day parade was significantly scaled back, lacking tanks and missile systems due to military shortages and the persistent threat of Ukrainian drones. In many towns, kindergarteners in military uniforms replaced actual soldiers—a visual testament to an aging leadership increasingly unable to counter the UAS threat.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. “Such a scale of Russian terror necessitates strong international responses,” Sybiha stated. “Russia has chosen terror over peace.”

Russia Reaches New Level of State-Sponsored Barbarism Against Ukraine

Russian state-sponsored barbarism since the start of this Russian war against Ukrainians has no bounds. As gruesome as it reads, the decapitation of prisoners of war is a bloody example of Russia’s total disregard for human lives—in this case, Ukrainian.

Since the Russian war against Ukraine resumed more than four years ago, we have provided numerous examples of its gross violations of common decency, rights of POWs, rights of humans, and notably children. We have written about their killing of unarmed civilians, rape and murder of young boys and girls, bombing of public transportation, apartment buildings and homes, supermarkets, and houses of worship. All of these heinous acts by the Russians against Ukrainians have been condemned by international organizations like the United Nations.

It seems that every dawn brings a new report of a new Russian crime against humanity.

The Kyiv Independent reported today that a Russian military commander ordered his troops to decapitate the bodies of two Ukrainian soldiers killed near Huliaipole and put them on display, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. "The enemy's cynicism and cruelty know no bounds," the General Staff wrote.

A Russian combat unit ambushed soldiers of Ukraine's 225th Separate Assault Regiment on the front lines near Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on May 12. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in battle. Intelligence intercepts showed that the commander of the Russian unit issued a direct order for his subordinates to cut the heads off the bodies of the fallen soldiers and place them in a "conspicuous spot" at the edge of the field. This was to be done "for confirmation," according to radio intercepts. The subordinate soldier reportedly expressed willingness to carry out this order.

The unit whose soldiers took part in the acts of desecration has been preliminarily identified. The commander who issued the order is believed to have previously ordered his troops to mock Ukrainian prisoners of war.

“By desecrating the bodies of fallen soldiers, the occupiers have once again demonstrated their sadistic nature and excessive, ostentatious cruelty,” the military said. “This is a gross, deliberate violation of the rules and customs of war — a war crime with no statute of limitations.”

A Pattern of State-Sponsored Barbarism

The recent report regarding the beheading of fallen Ukrainian soldiers is not an isolated incident of madness. It is a calculated tool of psychological warfare and a direct reflection of Moscow’s cruel military doctrine. To provide a broader context for this latest report, here is a summary of documented atrocities that demonstrate the systemic nature of these crimes:

1. Systematic Execution of Prisoners of War: The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine is currently investigating dozens of cases where Ukrainian servicemen were executed after surrendering. Notable incidents near Avdiivka and Robotyne show a recurring pattern: Russian forces filming the execution of unarmed soldiers with their hands raised, violating the most fundamental protections of the Geneva Conventions.

2. The Infrastructure of Torture: From the liberation of the Kyiv and Sumy regions to the ongoing occupation of southern Ukraine, “torture chambers” (kativni) have been discovered in nearly every liberated town. Evidence from sites in Bucha and Trostyanets reveals the use of electric shocks, mock executions, and captives being starved and denied medical care.

3. Chemical Warfare and Prohibited Weapons: Beyond physical mutilation, Moscow continues to deploy chemical agents via drones (such as K-51 grenades). This use of riot control agents as a weapon of war is a direct violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, further proving that the Kremlin views international law as non-binding.

Editorial Note: The Roots of Impunity

These acts are the inevitable result of decades of unpunished crimes in Chechnya and Syria. When the international community fails to hold the perpetrator accountable, "barbarism" becomes a standardized military tactic. For the readers of The Torn Curtain 1991, these events serve as a stark reminder that we are not just witnessing a territorial aggression, but a fundamental struggle against a regime that has abandoned the very concept of human rights.

It is inconceivable that any human being wouldn’t cringe at these reports. That’s why Ukrainian American voters can’t understand the White House’s silence. Ukrainian American voters won’t forget this come Election Day.

 US Foreign Policy Should Follow Kelly, not Trump

With the midterm and Presidential elections just around the corner, both political parties should review their foreign policy positions. As far as we’re concerned, the Democratic Party’s approach to issues about Ukraine and Russian aggression does not require adjustment. However, the Republican Party, especially its potential candidates, President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance, should compose another platform, one that is palatable to American voters, especially those who hail from the former captive nations and their descendants.

I believe that Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is worthy of consideration.

Speaking during the Face the Nation broadcast on Sunday, May 10, Kelly was asked about his upcoming trip to Ukraine (scheduled for early June). He emphasized that the Trump Administration’s approach—specifically the weakening of sanctions and the lack of military pressure—is emboldening Moscow rather than ending the war.

Kelly also observed:

“I think one of the obstacles to peace is that Donald Trump hasn't provided the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people with the support that Ukraine needs.”

“We’ve seen this over and over again, this strange relationship he has with Putin. He refuses to press Putin... He’s backed off on sanctions.”

“This administration is not using the sanction power they have against Russia... we’re trying to get them to put more sanctions in place, and this administration is taking sanctions off of Russians.”

That, in a nutshell, is quite palatable to Ukrainian American voters and others who hail directly or indirectly from the x-captive nations.

Russian Latest Drone Attack on Ukraine, notably Western Regions, Greatest to Date

Sources in Ukraine report that Russian invaders today launched the largest attack on Western Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Consequences of the daytime drone attack:

• Rivne — 3 dead, 4 wounded.

• Lutsk — Preliminary reports of a strike on the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) building.

• Kovel — Strike near the railway station; buses, shuttles, and cars damaged.

• Zakarpattia — Strike on an energy facility in Svalyava; a massive fire is reported on-site.

• Khmelnytskyi — 3 wounded reported in the Khmelnytskyi community.

• Ivano-Frankivsk & Kolomyia — Explosions heard; emergency power outages in effect.

• Zhytomyr Region — Strikes in Zviahel and Olevsk. Fire reported in the Korosten district.

• Vinnytsia Region — A residential building and the premises of an agricultural enterprise damaged.

• Odesa — Strike on a building roof; 2 people injured.

• Kyiv — Debris fell in the Obolon district.

• Kherson — Strike on a residential building and a private car.

• Cherkasy Region — Three people injured; residential buildings damaged.

• Lviv Region — Currently under UAV (drone) attack. Stryi and Drohobych are repelling the assault.

Russian "Shahed" drones also violated Moldovan airspace. It was spotted over Călărași, heading toward Lozova in the central part of the country. The Moldovan Ministry of Defense confirmed the border violation, stating the UAV entered via the Ocnița district.

Today’s Russian offensive is expected to last until noon tomorrow: a missile launch is anticipated tonight, followed by another wave of drones — Advisor to the Minister of Defense, Flesh.

The End is near for Putin and His Russia

It has been said that when the commander in chief is faced with scandalous, humiliating public defeat, he unholsters his sidearm and joins his ancestors. The Japanese do it.

This embarrassing situation is unfolding for #Russia and Putin in Moscow. After toning down the usual hype ahead to its annual May 9 pageant, #Putin announced that Mother Russia’s not-so glorious band of cutthroats will not be present at the upcoming civilian low-key event.

President Trump, are you following the pitiful display of #Putin’s power at The Parade in #Moscow?

Mr. #Zelenskyy has agreed to Putin’s plea not to bomb the parade but noted that beyond the parade grounds everything is a fair military target.

It seems Putin has declared to the world that Russia is in fact subservient to #Ukraine and is Ukraine’s colony.

Knowing how Russia behaves in these situations, his successor is already chomping at the bit. Who will it be? Someone in the limelight or someone in the shadows? Will the coup be violent or not?

Equally interesting is the question of who will earn the favor of President Trump? Where will you stand, Mr. Trump?

It seems that after all Zelenskyy and not Putin has the cards/numbers! 

Putin’s days are numbered and hopefully the White House has given the President sound advice.

Remember, Mr. President, he who stands with Putin/Russia is a fool.

Soldier Turned Academic Explains why War with Russia was Inevitable

A Ukrainian academic turned soldier turned academic has held on tightly to his conviction that no matter what is happening in international affairs, war with Russia is inevitable.

And thus we have another drastic explanation, clarification or justification why more than a decade ago I selected as the name for my blog “The Torn Curtain 1991.”

Yes, 35 years ago, the Ukrainian nation declared its independence and sovereignty from the Russian empire after centuries of subjugation. History has taught us that in the course of those centuries every flash of Ukrainian independence and the germination of a Ukrainian state in one fell swoop Russia – tsarist, communist or putinist – destroyed it. And for the most part, until now, Moscow was at least temporarily successful. In the 20^th century alone, Ukrainians several times established and reestablished their national statehood only to be vanquished each time by Russia with the naïve aid of Western allies.

On November 9, 1989, the infamous Berlin Wall, the ultimate barrier between Russia and the free nations, between evil and good, was destroyed by the people, and the captive nations cheered their new found freedoms. The Iron Curtain was torn down and trampled on.

However, was that the end of the division and oppression? Fortunately, for some, especially those who were destined for membership in NATO, their path to freedom and independence had triumphantly concluded and the western powerhouses assured it.

In the past, Ukraine – independent or not – was left out in the cold, only to be re-subjugated by Moscow. With Russian aggressive desires not slaked, Ukraine was bound to become enslaved again. Those attempts resumed 14 years ago in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea and then four years ago across the country. Thus, for Ukraine, the Iron Curtain was not destroyed; it was merely torn, leaving gaps for Russia soldiers, tanks and artillery to invade Ukraine again.

Ihor “Batko” Zhaloba, who enlisted to fight against the Russian invaders in 2014, foresaw the inevitability of war with Russia but apparently no one was able to prevent it. He explained that Russia’s historical path was preordained for war and Ukraine has been its primary target.

In a recent article by Julia Struck-Feshchenko in the Kyiv Post, Zhaloba, explained that when Russia launched its full-scale invasion 2022, he did not hesitate to enlist. He volunteered to defend Ukraine and served until he was demobilized at the age of 60.

Zhaloba spent decades studying Russian history before volunteering to fight it. His verdict: Europe remains dangerously unprepared, and Ukraine is the continent’s last line of defense.

Ihor Zhaloba – known by the callsign “Batko” (Father) – is a Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, and Senior Research Fellow at the Department of History of International Relations and Foreign Policy of Ukraine of the Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He is also a teaching professor in the Department of International Relations at Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University and president of the Ukrainian branch of the Pan-European Movement.

Today, he has returned to academic life at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, while continuing to lecture across Europe, raise awareness about the war, support Ukraine through volunteer work, and honor fallen comrades.

He also serves as president of the Ukrainian branch of the Pan-European Movement – a political and cultural initiative founded in 1922 to promote European unity in response to nationalism and conflict.

A professor of history and its in-depth student, Zhaloba enunciated that another Russian war against Ukraine was unavoidable. “My professional background led me to conclude that war was inevitable,” he said. “For me, it was only a matter of time before these two antagonistic models – Ukrainian and Russian – would collide.”

“I had studied Russian history for many years. As a historian, I understood the mentality and way of life of that country. The principle ‘we will not stand at any cost – we need victory’ can be consistently traced throughout the history of the Muscovite state and, later, Russia,” he said.

“This is the mode of existence of that state: it must expand its borders. In peacetime, it has nothing to sustain itself with. They have not even built proper sanitation infrastructure to this day, and struggle to organize their internal life. Therefore, Russians go elsewhere to seize what they are incapable of creating themselves.”

Until February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its latest invasion of Ukraine, Zhaloba said a large number of Ukrainians did not fully realize that Ukrainians had already been at war since 2014. “Back then, it felt distant to many of us – just as it still feels distant for many Europeans today,” he said.

“In December 2021, I told my students – whom I taught in the course ‘Civilizational Dimension of Modern International Relations’ – that there would be a major war with Russia.” Later, his students told him: “Ihor Volodymyrovych, back then we didn’t believe you.”

“This is the mode of existence of that state: it must expand its borders. In peacetime, it has nothing to sustain itself with. They have not even built proper sanitation infrastructure to this day, and struggle to organize their internal life. Therefore, Russians go elsewhere to seize what they are incapable of creating themselves.

“I also recalled the Russian philosopher Vasily Rozanov, who once said: ‘Why would you need freedom? Freedom is necessary for substance, so that it can develop – but what kind of freedom, and to what end, is it for something without substance? And Russian society, after all, has no substance.’ In that sense, they do not need freedom, because there is nothing to develop – Russian society is empty.”

While Russia was also facing its own internal struggles, he said Ukrainian society, meanwhile, has managed to overcome economic and political challenges. Since 2001, Ukrainians have ensured economic growth while preserving their freedom – and they value it, because it allows their “substance” to develop.

“This represents an existential threat to the Russian model, in which Ukrainians have always been perceived as ‘younger brothers,’ incapable of independent existence and supposedly needing the ‘guiding hand’ of big brother Russia,” he elaborated.

Since the presidency of Boris Yeltsin, he continued, there were expectations in Russia that Ukraine would collapse and return “on its knees” in exchange for cheap gas, timber, and other resources. “These expectations were never fulfilled,” he pointed out.

For him, Russia is the last colonial empire. “History shows that all colonial empires eventually collapse, and Russia should be no exception. However, it is not a classic colonial empire like the Roman or British empires,” he added.

Zhaloba elaborated that Russia would need to be an external shock – some form of defeat – that triggers internal instability. For example, Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 led to the revolution of 1905-1907. Similarly, the strain of World War I triggered the February Revolution, followed by the October Revolution in 1917.

“However, even if Russia begins to fragment, Ukraine would still have to continue fighting and maintain forces to stabilize its borders,” he said.

Why is the West so afraid of Russia’s collapse? Replying to his question, because it would likely be chaotic, uncontrolled, and extremely violent – especially given the presence of nuclear weapons. Many oppressed peoples within Russia could seek revenge against those who dominated them. The consequences would be brutal and destabilizing, affecting not only the region but the wider world.

His optimism and dedication are fed by his being a teacher and love of working with his students. “For 30 years, I have been telling them: ‘Take responsibility – your future, your life, your country are in your hands.’ So what then – should I have left and gone abroad? For me, my students are like my children. Who, then, was supposed to stand up for them?”

It’s teachers, historians and soldiers like Ihor Zhaloba who imbue current and future generations of Ukrainians with an indelible sense of patriotism.This is why President Zelenskyy is demanding strict, permanent security guarantees for his country and nation. If President Trump and the West don’t want to face another case of Russian inevitability then it behooves them to accept Kyiv’s insistence of strict security guarantees.