He who pays the piper, calls the tune.

For the Ukraine, that means the US will be calling the shots in peace talks.

That’s come as a shock to the bloke who is the most enthusiastic piper in Eastern Europe.

President Zelensky has spent the last 3 years or so travelling the globe begging for cash to fight his war. Now he’s peeved that he cannot end it on his terms.

Predictably, the EU is also straining to be involved in the conflabs. Who’d have thunk it? It’s always about them – unless it’s time to pay. It’s their routine approach to defence, hence the President’s disgruntlement about NATO.

Trump is a guy who sees everything in business terms, and that inevitably involves some sensible exchanges. While he relies on others for the subtleties of politics and diplomacy, he gets stuff done.

As for any deal that he has advanced that taps into the natural mineral reserves of the region – why would it be so unreasonable that the Ukraine pays its way for its battle with Russia?

If the Ukraine is living beyond its current means, it may need to get down to Cash Converters like all the others gagging for a quid.

That way, the most infamous piper of all might then finally earn the right to call the tune.