Ukraine seems to have slipped from the news cycle here in New Zealand where forthcoming elections take centre-stage. We aren’t the only place where a change of government might just signal a change in the storyline. A very worried Zelensky is losing friends rapidly.

Here’s some indications that “Article 88” is failling:

NATO Fractures: In U-Turn, Poland Announces It Will No Longer Arm Ukraine

BY TYLER DURDEN

THURSDAY, SEP 21, 2023 – 10:25 PM

The dam is breaking on unified Western support for Ukraine, and the timing couldn’t be worse for Zelensky, given tomorrow he’s expected to meet with President Biden at the White House. On Wednesday evening there is monumental news out of Poland which could potentially change the entire course of the war.

“Poland will no longer arm Ukraine to focus on its own defense,” Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced just hours after Warsaw summoned Ukraine’s ambassador related to a fresh war of words and spat over blocked grain, according to the AFP. Warsaw has throughout more than a year-and-a-half of the Ukraine-Russia war been Kiev’s staunchest and most outspoken supporter.

Will this massive and hugely significant about-face mark the beginning of the end? Are peace negotiations and ceding of territory in the Donbas inevitable at this point? 

Within the last 48 hours relations between Poland and Ukraine quickly spiraled to their lowest point since the Russian invasion, and it is directly related to Warsaw leading a handful of EU countries to extend a grain export ban on Ukraine, amid continuing anger and outrage from Polish farmers who are suffering due to their country being flooded with cheap Ukrainian wheat.

Crucially, Poland will hold parliamentary elections on Oct.15. The prior atmosphere of enthusiastic pro-Kiev rhetoric has drastically changed, now with comparisons likening Ukraine to a “drowning man”…READ MORE

And of course, Stateside, Trump is as popular as ever despite all attempts to thwart him. And since Trump isn’t one of the war-profiteers club, that has Zelensky very concerned.

Zelensky calls on Trump to release his Ukraine peace plan now

In a Tuesday interview with CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky encouraged former President Donald Trump to share his ideas on how to stop the war with Russia.

“He can publicly share his idea now, not waste time, not to lose people, yes, and then say that ‘My formula is to stop the war and stop all this tragedy and stop Russian aggression,” Zelensky told CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer. “And he said, how he sees it, how to push Russian from our land. Otherwise, he’s not presenting the global idea of peace.”

Zelensky also emphasized that he does not want to give up Ukrainian territory for a peace negotiation. He questioned Trump’s claim of being able to quickly end the war in July. 

“It seems to me that the sole desire to bring the war to an end is beautiful,” Zelensky told Martha Raddatz on ABC’s “This Week” through a translator. “But this desire should be based on some real-life experience. Well, it looks as if Donald Trump had already these 24 hours once in his time. We were at war, not a full-scale war, but we were at war, and as I assume, he had that time at his disposal, but he must have had some other priorities.”

Last weekend, Trump welcomed praise by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the former president’s comments on wanting a speedy end to the war. He said he would get Zelensky and Putin into a room together and figure out a deal. 

“I like that he said that because that means what I’m saying is right,” Trump said on “Meet the Press” Sunday. 

Zelensky is visiting the U.S. this week and will meet with U.S. leaders including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Joe Biden. His visit comes at a time when Congress is divided over whether aid to Ukraine should be included in a continuing resolution to keep funding the government. 

At a press conference Tuesday, McCarthy said he has questions for the Ukrainian leader.

“Where’s the accountability on the money we already spent?” McCarthy said, listing off questions he said he would ask the Ukrainian leader when he meets with him. “What is the plan for victory?”…READ MORE

Martin comments: Zelensky: “Awww, please Mr. Trump, put me out of my misery, kill the suspense, what are you planning to do with me?” The Ukrainian comedian’s Churchillian speeches seem to have withered away to be replaced by whimpering pleas of desperation. He’s starting to very much alone. Another Useful Idiot about to bite the dust?