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Since the start of the Trump administration, the United States has treated Russia and Vladimir Putin with more respect and dignity than it has treated Ukraine. This is absurd. As Americans, we should be outraged that our country aligned itself with Russia and North Korea in a United Nations vote that simply aimed to state the obvious—that Russia is the aggressor in the war in Ukraine.

Putin is a dictator, yet Trump, in a blatant act of misinformation, has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator. This is not only misleading—it is dangerous. Under Trump’s influence, the Republican Party, seemingly acting under indirect pressure from Putin, has dragged its feet in supporting democracy, freedom, and resistance to tyranny. For years, since the war started, they have delayed aid to Ukraine—even when it was politically expedient to do so.

America’s Commitment to Ukraine

Ukraine is one of our most loyal allies, and we are morally and strategically obligated to support them. Why? Because the United States and the United Kingdom guaranteed Ukraine’s security in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited thousands of nuclear warheads from the Soviet arsenal. They could have chosen to become a nuclear power, but instead, they agreed to give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., the U.K., and Russia. This agreement, signed in Budapest in 1994, ensured that Ukraine’s territorial integrity would be protected.

When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014 and later launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it violated that agreement. The United States and the United Kingdom were bound by their commitments to defend Ukraine, yet American leadership hesitated.

NATO’s Failure to Act

NATO, along with other European nations, acted cowardly in their response to Russian aggression. The moment Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Ukraine should have been accepted into NATO. Had that happened, we would not be in the situation we are today.

The core mission of NATO is to deter Russian aggression. Failing to act decisively in 2014 emboldened Putin. When you do not stand up to an aggressor, they become more aggressive—this is a lesson history has taught us time and time again.

Putin’s Reign of Terror

For more than two decades, Putin has ruled Russia as a brutal dictator, eliminating political opposition, crushing free speech, and waging wars to expand Russia’s influence. His reign has been marked by state-sponsored assassinations, imprisoning critics like Alexei Navalny, and using propaganda to manipulate the Russian people.

But Putin is weaker now than ever before. Russia’s economy is on the brink of collapse, and his military is losing ground in Ukraine. Even his own people are openly criticizing the war, something unheard of during his rule. The Wagner Group’s attempted coup, where mercenaries marched toward Moscow, showed just how fragile his grip on power really is.

What Should America and Its Allies Do?

We must act decisively to pressure Russia and prevent other rogue nations—North Korea, Iran, China, and others—from following the same path of aggression. If there are no consequences for war, we send the message that dictators can do as they please.

Here’s what needs to happen:

1. Increase Military Aid to Ukraine

• We must accelerate military support to ensure Ukraine can push Russia back.
• Troops from the U.S. and U.K. should be deployed in accordance with the Budapest Memorandum.

1. Expand NATO to Counter Russian Aggression

• We should push to admit Ukraine and Baltic states into NATO.
• This move would force Putin to negotiate because it threatens his expansionist ambitions.

1. Cripple Russia’s Economy

• We should increase domestic oil and natural gas production to cut off Russia’s energy revenue.
• Impose a military blockade on Russian oil tankers, preventing them from bypassing sanctions.
• Work with Europe to completely phase out Russian energy.

1. Engage in Psychological Warfare Against Putin

• Putin thrives on his strongman image—riding horses shirtless, hunting, and projecting masculinity.
• The CIA should flood Russian social media with images and narratives designed to humiliate him.
• If Putin is mocked and ridiculed inside Russia, he will be forced to act—either cracking down harder, which could backfire internally, or negotiating to save face.

1. Force Putin to the Negotiation Table from a Position of Strength

• Putin cannot be given an easy exit from this war.
• He should be offered a settlement that includes:
  • A full Russian withdrawal from Ukraine.
  • Recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
  • A staged end to CIA disinformation campaigns against him in exchange for lasting peace.

1. Ukraine Should Offer Resource-Based Concessions to Secure Peace

• Zelenskyy should not give up land but could offer mineral rights to the U.S. in exchange for military and financial support.
• This could offset the cost of aid, ensuring American investment in Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

The Stakes Are High

Russia has nuclear weapons, but we cannot allow nuclear threats to paralyze us. If we do not stand up now, China will take Taiwan, Iran will attack its neighbors, and other authoritarian regimes will see that they can invade smaller nations without consequences.

For over a century, America has been a force for democracy, freedom, and resistance to tyranny. We have stood on the right side of history more often than not. Now, under Trump’s influence, we are abandoning our allies. That is unacceptable.

Conclusion: Peace Through Strength

If Putin wants to meddle in our elections, we should make sure his worst nightmare floods Russian media—an image of a weak, humiliated Putin. If he wants Ukraine, we should expand NATO to his doorstep. If he continues his war, we should cripple his economy beyond repair.

Putin is weaker than he has ever been.
The time to act is now.