Bad moments in novice diplomacy

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September 23rd, 2024: Zalenski traveled to Biden’s hometown, accompanied by Pennsylvania’s governor Shapiro to sign mementos and ask for more of them. My advice: never insert yourself into another country’s political race unless you’re sure, really sure, that the candidate you’re pubicly supporting is going to win. Oops.

And he hasn’t improved his skills since:

Treasury sec reveals Zelenskyy nixed Trump's mineral deal twice prior to Oval Office blowup

"This has to be one of the greatest diplomatic mishaps of all time by President Zelenskyy," Bessent said in an interview Friday with Laura Ingraham, host of Fox News' "The Ingraham Angle." 

Bessent explained that Zelenskyy told him during a meeting in Kyiv that he would not sign a mineral deal, which would exchange billions of dollars in US aid funding for rare earths and other resources from Ukraine.  Zelenskyy also refused to close the deal with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Bessent stated. 

On Friday, Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelenskyy in full view of reporters, with cameras rolling. The tense exchange led to a canceled meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump.

"It was supposed to be a great day and this is one of the biggest own goals in diplomatic history," Bessent said, referencing a soccer term about scoring against your own team. 

"Today, I was shocked that he would behave like this on camera in front of the world," he added.