Trump’s Ukraine Challenge: A Defining Moment in History

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By Stephen Kitar

In a December 8th social media post, reacting to the events unfolding in Syria, former President Donald J. Trump declared:

“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer… Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now.”

These remarks highlight Trump’s perspective on the weakening grip of two global adversaries. Yet, they also illuminate a critical question as Trump reiterates his campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine: How will peace be achieved, and at what cost to the future of global stability?

It’s the how that matters most. Trump clearly sees an opportunity in Russia’s faltering grip on power, but the path forward remains fraught with complexity.

Putin’s Crumbling Regime

Trump’s remarks underscore Russia’s declining influence and the precarious state of Vladimir Putin’s regime. The signs of Putin’s desperation are everywhere. The “three-day military operation” Putin sold to Russians has become a three-year quagmire, with nearly 600,000 Russian soldiers dead or wounded. Russia’s economy is suffocating under sanctions. His military is running out of capable recruits, resorting to mercenaries from North Korea and offering exorbitant signing bonuses to entice the desperate and destitute into his war machine.

Inside Russia, discontent is simmering. Lenin once described a revolutionary moment as the time when “the bottoms don’t want, and the tops cannot live in the old way.” Russia is inching closer to this tipping point. This is evident in growing protests, internal conflicts, and whispers of change in a society exhausted by its leader’s lies and failures.

The Myth of a Mighty Russia

Having lived and served in Russia, I’ve long known that the image of a “mighty Russian bear” is overblown by so-called “experts” intent on preserving the myth of a once-mighty Russia. Putin’s regime is built on a fragile foundation of propaganda, corruption, and fear. His military, once touted as formidable, has been exposed as ill-equipped and poorly led.

Despite these cracks, many in the West continue to overestimate his power, clinging to the myth of a strong Russia. This myth is dangerous. It leads to hesitation and half-measures—the kind of incremental aid the Biden administration has provided to Ukraine. This aid has been just enough to prevent defeat but not enough to secure victory, prolonging the war and ironically reinforcing the myth it seeks to dismantle.

The Cost of Appeasement

Trump’s pledge to end the war in Ukraine appeals to an international audience fatigued by years of violence and loss. But peace cannot come at the expense of justice. Ending a war cannot mean appeasing a dictator.

Ukrainians, defending their homeland against an existential threat, have shown remarkable resilience despite being outgunned and outnumbered. Their fight is not merely territorial; it is a stand against the erosion of international norms that protect sovereign nations.

Having lived in both countries, when they were part of one state, served in its military, and witnessed this conflict firsthand, I know the path to peace is fraught with dangers that could reshape the world’s future. An immediate ceasefire, as suggested by some of Trump’s advisors, risks freezing the conflict on terms favorable to Russia, effectively rewarding its aggression.

This is not the time for half-measures. Instead, the West must seize the moment to dismantle the main U.S. adversary without direct conflict—a reality Trump himself seems to understand.

I’ve spoken with soldiers on the front lines who say they’d rather face a “horrible end” than endure an “endless horror.” They fight not just for Ukraine but for the principle that borders cannot be redrawn by brute force. A decisive end to Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine could serve as a powerful deterrent to aspiring dictators worldwide.

A Test of Leadership

The parallels to Syria are striking. Assad, once propped up by Russia, has fallen and fled. Putin’s support for him evaporated under the weight of the war in Ukraine. A dictator who once seemed untouchable is now gone. Putin will be no exception. But how his regime ends—and what follows—depends on the choices we make now.

The world cannot afford to set a precedent where aggression is rewarded, occupied territories are retained, and sanctions are lifted without accountability.

Trump has a chance to make history. His decisions regarding Ukraine will not only define his political legacy but could also shape the future of global geopolitics. Will he embrace the opportunity to deliver a decisive blow to authoritarianism? Or will he risk emboldening tyranny by pursuing an expedient peace that leaves the roots of the conflict intact?

The Moment to Act

We are at a critical juncture. Putin’s regime is weaker than ever, standing on one leg. I believe Putin’s end is closer than many think. But letting him limp away, regroup, and return to power would be the greatest gift the West could give him—and the gravest mistake it could make for the future of the world.

Putin’s fall could come just as swiftly as Assad’s if the West seizes this moment. To miss this opportunity—when Russia’s resources are depleted, its influence diminished, and its people disillusioned—would be a historic failure.

The world is watching, and the stakes are immense. As history has shown, no dictator’s reign ends well. For Putin, the end is looming nearer. The question is whether the United States and its allies will rise to the occasion or falter in a moment of unparalleled opportunity.