It’s important to understand that Zelenskyy is trying to gain access to NATO.
Trump knew this but could not allow it to happen. If Ukraine joins NATO, the U.S. would be bound by NATO’s collective defense agreement—an attack on one is an attack on all.
Ukraine joining NATO now is not just a straw-man but a straw giant. It would not have the approval of the US and Hungary at the least, so it is not relevant to the present.
Now consider the larger implications: Ukraine and Russia despise each other. If Ukraine were to become a NATO member, any future skirmish between them would obligate the U.S. to enter into direct conflict with Russia.
OK, a what if? What would be the scenario of a "future skirmish"?
This would mean World War III. And if that happened, China would have to choose a side—they would almost certainly align with Russia.
Trump also invoked WWIII against Zelensky. How does that happen in the current situation? I'd really like to hear President Trump elaborate and maybe he will in the State of the Union Address. That is really big stuff. But how does WWIII start? Who is going to start the WWIII that you or Pres.Trump envision?
Russia is a superpower with nukes and Ukraine is not. Yet Russia the aggressor needs to "bring in a ringer" and there's no issue? The US estimates 10,000 North Korean troops active in Ukraine. What about some comparable (not necessarily US) support for Ukraine?