It was a strong gust of fresh air, to be honest. Quite pleasant to hear, at last, such words of realistic assessment about wannabe Churchill in dirty green hoodie.

Have you perchance noted that already Blinken, even before the Trump’s reinstatement and his détente with Russia, has begun burying the hackneyed "unprovoked Russian aggression" TV/YT trope?

Russia was an aggressor, sure, but the war is almost fully instigated by Zelensky’s backers.

Another crucial component of the current Ukrainian dismal situation is a very advanced Stormtrooper Syndrome many of Ukrainians have got because of propaganda affirmative overdoses.

Zelensky already regressed to a terminal stage of such a syndrome. Here's a fresh take from The Hill that largely mirrors mine own in that regard:

https://thehill.com/opinion/5146149-zelensky-war-ego

He had long ago started to think he’s the character he played on TV: mind you, Zelensky actually played Napoleon in a slapstick trash comedy.