If Zelinski said he felt "pressured" or whatever from the US president wouldn't he have been making

[Maraya1969]

his situation worse? The Ukraine is dependant on us. I'm sure, knowing this jackass jerk president, he does not want to do anything to piss him off.

Somebody say that

[nolabear]

1. Of course. He was being careful.

That argument from the right holds no water whatsoever.

[budkin]

2. Exactly, and the GOP knows that

But they are being cynical pieces of shit.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. Absolutely correct.

When you are being shaken down and the person doing it is POTUS who is willing to let Putin retake the Ukraine, you damn well will say anything to mitigate the consequences for your country. Self preservation led Zelesky to say nice things about Trump publicly.

[crickets]

7. Yes, and I am hoping that this is underlined somewhere in testimony.

Zelinsky was threading a needle, trying to fend off Russia and not tick off Trump at the same time. Not a good spot to be in. His country was on the line, so of course he said what he thought he needed to say.

edit: and further along, Schiff is making this point with questions to Taylor. Good for him.

[moondust]

4. Knowing how vengeful Dump is,

somebody in a compromised position of need like Zelensky, with many lives at risk, knows he has to be very, very careful not to offend a spoiled man-baby mob boss who could do him and his people enormous damage. He's got no choice but to lie if necessary.

[Maraya1969]

5. Adam Schiff just brought this point up. Good for him!

[Celerity]

8. GMTA, lol

[Celerity]

6. Schiff is hammering this home finally right now

[LanternWaste]

9. Zelinsky sings "clowns to the left of me, jokers to right..."

You're right of course, Zelinsky's in a precarious situation-- stuck between Trump on the one hand and Putin on the other. He can't simply tell Trump "you're lying again" and risk the military aid preventing Putin from yet another of Crimea- and Georgia-styled anschluss.

[JudyM]

12. He's also stuck between telling the truth and denying he felt pressured, ended up telling the press

the latter. Which could hurt his domestic credibility for fighting corruption as our Dems go on proving that he actually did feel pressure enough to set up a CNN interview giving up the goods to tRump.

[guillaumeb]

10. Exactly.

The crime has already been admitted to by the GOP. And all of the witness testimony supports the Democrats here.

[dewsgirl]

11. He does not have a choice, I wish the media would frame

it from that POV.