I see Stephen Gethins MP, the SNP's Westminster foreign affairs spokesperson, has said on our behalf without any membership consultation, that Donald Trump's second state visit to the UK cannot go ahead if he refuses to show further support for Ukraine, called Trump's behaviour towards Zelensky "grotesque" and said it amounted to "bullying". I cannot agree with idea nor with that naive 'David and Goliath' assessment. My thoughts more fully are here: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/03/01/elite-fall-out-at-least-we-got-to-see-it-this-time/
Further thoughts from reader JB
As a kid my father always told me to read once, read again and then read between the lines to ensure of understanding what the writer actually intends.
I had been doing a bit of research myself on Zelensky, prior to this meeting of, as quite correctly stated above, the elites in Ukraine. I was going to write out a few things tonight but decided against it for the very reason that I just didn’t feel the need to be panned for showing the true Zelensky. I also just didn’t feel like having to defend myself against the onslaught that you yourself have had to do. That being said I thought that I would share some of my findings, more with links as opposed to text, to let people make their own minds up about Zelensky.
This is a very difficult subject to broach as feelings obviously run high, although I do support the Ukrainian people and their right to live in peace in their own country without a larger neighbouring country taking control either politically or violently I just do not like Zelensky as he is from the same mould as Trump, Vance, Musk and Putin. Like Starmer Zelensky is a smaller player in their elitist group but all are very much the same type of people interested only in money and power.
I don’t know if anyone has heard of Pandora Papers which consist of nearly 12 million files — totalling close to 2.94 terabytes — leaked from 14 companies that provide corporate services in offshore jurisdictions. The documents offer the most comprehensive look to date at how such service providers help the rich and famous — including celebrities, the ultra-wealthy, politicians, and criminals — to hide their money in financial secrecy jurisdictions. Zelensky is very much part of this.
From the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)…….https://www.occrp.org/en/project/the-pandora-papers/pandora-papers-reveal-offshore-holdings-of-ukrainian-president-and-his-inner-circle
And more from the Guardian on this subject……https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/revealed-anti-oligarch-ukrainian-president-offshore-connections-volodymyr-zelenskiy
A bit more of his history and some insight to the man Zelensky from AlJazeera, some quite good facts about him and others….well you can make your own minds up…..https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/2/28/volodymyr-zelenskyy-a-dictator-or-a-ukrainian-churchill
As I stated above I am anti Trump/Vance/Musk/Starmer/Farage and also Zelensky along with all the rest of the world elites.
I agree with John that we must stand up for the people of Ukraine vehemently but let’s not forget to stand up for the people of Scotland against these rich warmongers also!!!
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Sorry, I just cannot see the point of your posting.
You know the true character of the Ukrainian President but won’t state it because people will disagree with your opinion.
What’s the point of the rest of your posting?
In my opinion Volodymyr Zelenskyy became president as a result of US action behind the scenes and is/was as much Donald Trump’s tool as Sir Keir Starmer.
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Judging by my FB TL, many of my online friends regard Zelensky as the second coming.
I’ve watched THE clip over and over and the conclusion I came to was Trump says before the cameras start to roll – this is what we are going to say and this is how to handle it. A little bit of Hollywood from two major players. Lights, camera, ACTION….
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Exactly it was theatre and Zelensky refused to follow the script – no bullying just exasperation.
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It seems to me that no-one can possibly examine all the records and personal/business history of those we elect as leaders and therefore rely on others for information to build up bigger pictures. Trouble is those passing on info also have their prejudices and motives making it difficult to ever know if doubts and fears are real or whipped up to cause mischief. So what can we rely on?
Here in Scotland we know from experience just how easy it is to discredit those in power, and how hard it is to get to the truth. In Westminster plenty of people voted for Boris Johnson despite having a fairly good idea of his failings. In USA Trump is re-elected despite actual charges against him, large democratic majorities can be hailed as the people’s will or discredited as tainted by corrupt manipulation. Our governments support one regime or leader and then actively destroy it/them when what they stand for can no longer be tolerated or accepted
That’s maybe where we need to rely on observing action rather than words, systems over individuals or parties, public discourse over public opinion. That way we can recognise the justified fear Western actions cause in other countries while still holding opponents to account when required, it’s why we can offer this leader support now for a specific reason but not blindly or forever. The pragmatic acceptance of the least worst option v the single minded crusade of those believing only in their own truths?
My philosophical take has been buoyed up while listening to William Dalrymple’s Empire podcast, tales of the swings in fortunes, the rise and fall of regimes and their leaders. The episodes on Ireland and Scotland were particularly interesting to me but I plan to try others to broaden out my knowledge and understanding of how we arrived at the world today
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Very well said. Spot on.
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This is long and may be somewhat incoherent but then , nobody is perfect, especially me, and it is just an opinion that may or may not be read by others on here and which , if it is read by others , may either be agreed with for some/all of it, or may be disagreed with for most/all of it. Ha Ha.
#TooLong
Whatever you think of Trump or Zelensky one thing stands out with a Trump presidency.
He is acting in a way that is normally hidden from public view when other presidents were in charge of America.
I mean , come on , are some supposedly intelligent people , as in those who are political commentators for MSM and also those online, actually expecting us to believe that other American presidents and also their secret service organisation, the CIA, were incapable of acting in a way that put “America First” in the world.
Or rather they, as political commentators, are expecting us all to forget what they, the previous American presidents, have done and also condoned being done in the past , both within their own country and in the world.
(Also what they, as former US presidents, have also failed to do in their own country in not helping the poorest and weakest in America- and where some large American pharmaceutical companies have exploited Americans, all for their own company profit, and apparently they , as huge Pharma companies , have received substantial US government assistance in public funded basic research and also tax breaks).
In other words they , as former US Presidents, were no different from Trump as the current US president, in that a lot of their actions and their lack of action(s) were not that different from Trump’s, on some of the things he has done and also not done !
However , as former presidents, their public face was one of a more dignified and more polished US President so therefore they were seen as being more acceptable to both America and to the World.
Did they, as previous US presidents, not interfere in other countries affairs ?
But only usually when there was some benefit to be had for America.
Also why was America, like other countries in the world, so selective in which needy country they chose to help, and then also which other needy countries they chose not to help ?
Why indeed .
America polices the world we have been told…..but was it for the world’s good or for America’s own good ?
Apparently though the actions of former US presidents appears to be considered as irrelevant just now.
Trump is exposing this other darker side to America, where a significant amount of Americans were willing to vote for him, knowing exactly who he was and what he was like. Why ?
Try researching America’s history, both domestically and overseas, and then try and say that Trump is somehow distinct and unique from other previous US presidents and their administrations.
Trump is , IMO , very much a self serving C***, and so should be no where near public office, because of what he represents and who he represents. (to include himself).
However is he not just a continuation of what existed before him ?
Is he not just being more transparent than others were , as in those others who previously held the position of American President.
He is more willing to show the world this other side to America, which is the real America as a country in the world who is far too dominant, too powerful and too wealthy and because of that holds too much influence within the world.
Is America , via their respective governments, really any different from Russia ?
Are many Americans, like many of us in the UK, not also being badly served by those who supposdley represent them as their government.
The UK governments and their various PM’s are really no different to Trump, or indeed is the English Royal family. (or indeed is much of the UK media any different to Fox News and other politically compromised state media in America- and also state media in Russia ).
In fact is Fox News any different from Russia Today ?
Where Fox News is nothing more than a (Republican state) media source ?
What are the UK media equivalents to Fox News and Russia Today ?
Talking of which , the UK media have reported that Zelensky has now been invited by the King for a visit to Sandringham, where they also report that the King shows “solidarity with Zelensky”.
This is the same King who apparently wrote a personal letter to Donald Trump, hand delivered by Keir Starmer on his visit to the WH, where he, the King, was inviting Trump to come to the UK, or rather come to Balmoral in Scotland, on a ‘state visit’.
Did the King not know what Trump was like then, before he, as the new King, invited Trump ‘back over’ to the UK on a second state visit , actually he invited him to Scotland, for a ‘state’ visit ?
How ridiculous is this now ?
Also how hypocritical.
Can the same King and the same UK PM show solidarity to Zelensky & Ukraine yet both also still welcome Zelensky’s abuser & Ukraine’s apparent enemy , as in Donald Trump, to still come to Scotland on a state visit, via a personal invitation from him the King.
An invitation where Starmer said to Trump that “the King sends his best wishes and regards for a second state visit , this is really special, it’s never happened before , this is unprecedented”
So is King Charles and Starmer’s position on this now not then a conflicted position considering they are now supposdley both showing support for Zelensky?
Confused ?
No wonder, it is just so very confusing and also hilariously ridiculous and farcical.
So is this state visit for Trump, after the much publicised ‘incident’ in the WH with Zelensky, still to stand then ?
Are politics in the UK and also American politics not just absolutely ridiculous , where we the pubic in the UK are supposed to be so naïve and gullible to not see what is really behind this Trump state visit to Brexit UK.
Which then also makes both the King and Starmer’s position on supporting Zelensky and Ukraine now seem somewhat more contrived and more really ‘virtue signalling’ than actual sincerity .
As in pick a side why don’t you !
The Zelensky/Trump WH incident , that also included jibes from Vance and others towards Zelensky as well , is now very much an inconvenience to the pantomime that was to be played out when Trump came on his state visit to Balmoral.
So why is the UK government and also the King still wanting to pander to a bully like Trump if they are now supporting Zelensky and Ukraine ?
Still confused ?
Well the English Royal family and the various UK governments have the ‘art of the deal’ in mind in their various dealings with former American Presidents and also with Trump as the current one , and also too with some other dubious types who were leaders of other countries in the world.
Which let’s be honest , as a dubious behaviour also includes the various UK governments and he various UK PM’s , who were and still are not averse to acting against their own people, and also too , as a UK government, have acted very much against Scotland now and in also in the past.
Come on , Trump may be a C*** , but have the various past US presidents , the current and past UK government(s) and also the English Royal family all been beacons of virtue in the world , so much so , that they think they can all take the moral high ground over others ?
Hardly.
My sympathy lies only with the Ukrainian people in this matter.
I also sympathise with the Palestinian people, but where it seems in respect to Palestine , the various UK government’s and also different American presidents have sided more with Israel, and they still do.
Also where much of the UK and American media have turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Israel government and the IDF against the Palestinian people for many many years.
Where they, as a media, carefully choose their words to describe what they say is happening in Gaza to the Palestinian people , as opposed to what is really happening there and who is doing it (which they, tactically avoid saying in their role as a politically compromised media and also as a pro Israel media ).
BTW I also sympathise with decent American people too, who like us are seemingly always badly represented by many past and present rogue leaders and their governments , and also , who like us, are often let down by a certain type of voter in their country as well, who vote for those who seek to serve the few and never seek to serve the many. (and in Scotland who never as a UK government seek to serve us as a nation within their UK).
Oh but remember the West is, or rather their governments are, apparently always……… right and good ! (that is depending on who is the leader and who is the government apparently ).
Or at least that’s what you are supposed to think, and so then believe !
I beg to differ , based on so so many facts and so much history.
Liz S
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Fantastic stuff!
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The whole damn situation seems to be a Pandora’s box, sick of these war mongers, far too many of them, and the people are always collateral, that’s the real crime. I have no idea who Zelensky really is or what his deal is, is he a pawn caught in between the power mad US, EU, Russia etc…I don’t care I want the greedy, selfish, nasty, war mongering evil barstrds to just disappear off the face of the Earth so we can start to repair the disgusting damage done to so many innocent people, wee kids, young people, will have no future with these oligarchical, nasty sh*ts in power wherever they are.
It’s going to go either way, all out WW3, or start talking, stop killing innocent people lay down your weapons including dismantling nuclear weapons, which is it to be? The UN needs to step in get these oligrachs round the table, if it’s not too late that is. tRump wil do anything to stay out of jail, he’s a nasty cruel criminal, he’s in such a position of power, a mad man in power, and his pals are just as bad, none of them are peace makers, they take donw their enemies, they kill thsoe who oppose them, the billions of people need to take matters into their own hands if these war mongering greedy selfish sh*ts don’t stop what they are doing around the globe, divide and rule, win win for the evil oligarchs. I despair.
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I think what all our posts are skirting around is power, who holds it, what do they do with it, how do they sell it to the public. The White House fight reminded me of historical dramas set in Tudor times like Wolf Hall – all the different factions vying for power or favours, a hierarchy of the powerful demanding homage and allegiance. Know your place, the rich man in his castle, the poor man at the gate type politics has maybe never gone away but has just been hidden from scrutiny. Maybe the big difference now is that TV and social media lets what goes on be seen (when those in power choose) rather than the public relying on filtered reports? And, just like in Tudor times, no-one gives up power lightly, no-one welcomes dissent and no-one is completely open and transparent about their motives and actions. Coincidentally men again dominate the power positions quota, possibly a more even gender balance with equal voice would allow for more people centred policies? No wonder why EDI has fallen out of favour with a group of abortion hating, women controlling white men, but we need to keep fighting to retain it here in Scotland
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Hilary Clinton was a warmonger. Thatcher. Trump was elected not anointed.
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All true, but Thatcher and Hilary Clinton weren’t leading balanced teams or actively seeking to promote things like family friendly policies let alone EDI. Trump’s team appears to be largely male.
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Trump stops war. That is why people in the US voted for him. Simple. They are sick of it and so are everyone else.
The US Defence (attack) spend $760Billion. A third of all world spend. Enough to eradicate poverty. Provide education etc.
Trident dumped in Scotland. A danger to Scotland. Get it out of Scotland. A total waste of monies. Dumped without authority. Starmer and Zelenskyy religious breaking every commandment in the book. Total hypocrites. Killing millions of people to get rich. Eye of the needle. Hell.
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Hilary Clinton was a warmonger. Thatcher. Trump was elected. Not anointed. In two years Senate elections. 2 members from each State. 100+. Control can change.
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As we know the king has no practical power. The only power left to him is soft power and that is not able to be applied in writing. We know that Trump loves pomp and circumstance, and we know that he thinks the sun shines out of the Kings posterior. So much so that he fancies himself as king of America. He loves autocrats. The only power that Charles can exert on Trump is face-to-face. The only practical influence he can have on Trump is face-to-face, confidentially. I hope Charles is not blind to what has happened and uses his opportunity and his status to bring Trump at least part way to his senses. If nothing else I’m sure he will point out that he is head of state of Canada and that he does not take kindly to other states attempting to remove part of his kingdom. And since so many of Charles’ relations were killed by the Russians I strongly suspect he will have no sympathy and be strongly in favour of Ukraine. I don’t think he will waste the opportunity to make his opinions known to Trump.
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