I have watched with fascination as the U.S. media swayed with every utterance by President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin on Putin’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Vice President J.D. Vance led the attack and Trump jumped in scolding Zelensky that he “did did not have the cards.” The Ukrainian president, though  wincing, responding  that, “this (war) is not playing cards.”

I had a Catholic nun in grade school who would admonish her students with, “He who laughs last, laughs best.” Yet this is no laughing matter, nor is it card playing. It is instead a shrewd calculation by Zelensky, the David in this David and Goliath(s) story, who once again has bested both giants whose top heavy egos keep them off balance.

Trump boasted, “I will end this war the first week I am in office.” Then that changed to first 100 days in office. Remember, Trump did nothing to end the protracted war Putin has waged against Ukraine since 2014. Trump had four full years in his first term to try. Nada!

Many in the press have bought the notion that Putin does hold the cards and Trump and Putin are about to crush Ukraine. However, as one scribe recently wrote, “Not so fast on Ukraine.” Count me in this latter camp.

This war has been a disaster for Putin and Russia. The Russians predicted that they would overthrow Ukraine in three days when their full invasion began in February 2022. It is now over three years with Russian casualties mounting and Russia’s financial picture worsening every day. Estimates of Russian casualties are between 800,000 and one million deaths and injuries. The Stockholm Institute for Transition Economics reports that Russia’s fiscal resources are under increasing strain, threatening its economic stability.

The full scale invasion by Russia has prompted its neighbors, Finland and Sweden, to move from neutral to NATO members, strengthening NATO. The day after Trump’s and Vance’s staged tirades against Zelensky in the Oval Office that was seen on camera, the leaders of the European Union states met with Zelensky in London. They pledged to increase their support for Ukraine — sealing even further the bonds of their growing alliance. They also pledged impressive increases in their military budgets.

Led by the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland, there seems to be movement to create a European Army. As I write, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has indicated that all men in Poland will undergo some manner of military training. Today Poland’s military stands at 200,000. Tusk wants to increase the size of his military to over 500,000. Ukraine’s army is approximately 800,000 while Russia’s is thought to be around 1.3 million. All of this could very well lead to the creation of a European Army.

Zelensky was smart enough to gradually start making amends. (A little humility goes a long way in dealing with Trump and Putin.) The very evening after the Oval Office battle of words, a surprisingly fair interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier allowed Zelensky to make his case for the mineral deal that Trump wanted so desperately. That deal would provide Trump the cover his ego required to go forward with his exercise in peace making. The television interview allowed Zelensky to also make his case forcefully and rationally for peace and be open to supporting a ceasefire.

Zelensky had earlier underscored his seriousness about peace when he offered to step aside as President to get a secure peace. Now once again Zelensky was the crafty, charismatic, and authentic leader that the world community admires.

The next day, fresh off of his rude rebuke by Trump, Zelensky met in London with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer who showered the Ukrainian leader with high praise. Starmer understood what the press missed, which was that Zelensky had to force the issue of guaranteed security in a public way with Trump. Zelensky was bound and determined to be part of the discussion about conditions for peace in “his” own country.

Bullying Zelensky like a third rate leader was in itself third rate and not going to work with Zelensky. If Zelensky had to go forward without the support of the United States but with European support, then so be it.

It was not lost on the Europeans, including the Ukrainians, that this last year Europe had contributed more in aid to Ukraine than the U.S. Also of note is that Ukraine is every day becoming more and more self sufficient in producing their own weapons. In just these past three years Ukraine has gone from 20 percent self sufficient to a predicted 50 percent by year’s end. In fact, Silicon Valley is convinced that Ukraine makes a better and less expensive drone than any place in the world. They have sent their engineers to Ukraine to learn to make more lethal and far less expensive drones.

In addition, there is $300 million in Russian assets being held in European countries that could be used in their support of Ukraine.

This past week in Saudi Arabia, the Ukrainians agreed to a ceasefire and Trump lifted his temporary ban on Ukrainian aid, both in armaments and intelligence. Trump has now challenged Putin to meet the ceasefire and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hinted that guaranteed security for Ukraine will most likely be in the final peace agreement, if it is to be had.

Ukrainians possess an indomitable spirit. They may suffer devastation and loss but cannot be defeated, especially with a leader like Zelensky. That and 1,000 years of resilience tell me so.

David Bonior represented Macomb County and Michigan in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 2003. He served as Democratic whip from 1991 to 2002.