Mr. Trump, you ran your 2025 election campaign on claims that you would be able to end the war in Ukraine before you were elected [archived version]. Then you pushed it back to “within 24 hours”.

You have not delivered, Mr. President. And this keeps you up at night. You promised something, and less than a year into your presidency, you’re already failing. Naturally, this is just one of many things you promised you hadn’t delivered. This makes you look like a loser and hate being perceived as a loser. Unfortunately, you are a loser, but let’s focus on the war in Ukraine right now.

This wouldn’t have happened under your administration

In 2022, you made shocking claims that this war wouldn’t have happened had you been President [archived version]. Putin, in 2025 would come out in support of your claims [archived version]. This, of course, is impossible to prove, and also a ridiculous claim. The war is against Ukraine, a sovereign nation to the West of Russia. The war does not involve the United States of America at all. Therefore, it is irrelevant who is the President of the United States at the time unless, of course, you were thinking about giving Russia Ukrainian land for free to prevent a war.

On the 19th of February, 1954, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decree transferring Crimea from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (UkrSSR). At the time, over half of the population in Crimea was ethnic Russians. Nevertheless, the agreement was reached.

The Russo-Ukrainian war began on the 20th of February 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea, violating agreements on troop movements with the use of unmarked soldiers. Later, on the 27th of February, Russia would deploy special forces to occupy government buildings and install a puppet regime so Russia could organise a sham referendum to annex the Crimean peninsula officially.

The response from the West was limited and shallow. The international community’s failure to recognise the interconnectedness of these events enabled Russia to escalate its intervention, culminating in the full-scale invasion of 2022. Understanding this chronology is essential for countering disinformation narratives that frame the conflict as a “civil war” or reactive measure. The Russo-Ukrainian War, now in its second decade, remains a stark example of modern imperialism and hybrid aggression.

On bearing the costs of the war

Mr. Trump, you have repeatedly claimed that the United States of America has contributed more towards Ukraine than Europe [archived version]. This is untrue, but you’re using this platform to financially take advantage of the European Union by building a narrative where the United States is being scammed.

The numbers are precise: European citizens contributed 2.8 times more than Americans relative to GDP. Europe has consistently outpaced the US in non-military aid, including refugee support (€100+ billion vs. $0 from the US).

We in the continent have experience dealing with self-centred, arrogant types.

I suggest to you, Mr. Trump, that you understand where you belong. The European Union will not be taken advantage of. You will be politically respected if you stick to matters that concern your country’s interests. Still, Ukraine is geographically closer to the European Union, and we Europeans will play a decisive role in shaping Ukraine’s and the rest of the continent’s future, including security matters.

Now, it is your choice whether you wish to do this together with your European partners, with whom the United States has maintained friendly relations for decades and shares many common values, or embrace Russia’s authoritarianism and despotic foreign policy. Make sure to choose correctly, as you are running out of allies. Ask Canadians.

On ending the war

Mr. Trump, everyone is tired of the war. Germans are tired [archived version], Poland, one of the strongest Ukraine supporters, is also exhausted [archived version], the United Kingdom is tired [archived version], and Russians and Ukrainians are also tired. Of course, everyone wants the war to end immediately. But the question is: at what cost?

If Ukraine stops fighting, it will cease to exist. If Russia stops fighting, the war will end, and we will have peace and Ukrainian sovereignty.

Supporting Ukraine might be expensive, but unfortunately, you don’t have a choice. You can either support Ukraine for as long as it needs or give into Putin’s demands; there’s no middle ground.

What Putin says he wants right now is clear. But we can’t possibly know what he’s thinking. Will he continue with the traditional Russian aggression policy, or will this Ukraine peace deal pacify him? It is impossible to know. But there are precedents to believe tyrants are never satisfied through diplomatic agreements, and Russia is a major example of it.

Pacifying aggressors - Hitler

In 1938, Britain and France permitted Nazi Germany to annexe Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, despite Czechoslovakia’s objections. Traumatised by World War I’s devastation, both nations prioritised peace. Widespread anti-war sentiment in Britain and France pressured leaders to seek diplomatic solutions. The distrust of the Soviet Union and uncertainty about US support left Britain and France reluctant to confront Germany without reliable allies.

What came after, everyone knows. Hitler didn’t stop in Czechoslovakia. He would go on to also invade Poland, triggering World War II.

On the 31st of August, 1939, Nazi operatives staged a fake Polish attack on a German radio station to justify invading Poland. Poland was under mutual defence treaties with Britain and France at the time.

The Soviet Union then invaded eastern Poland on the 17th of September, 1939, per the secret terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Other examples of failed land concessions include:

• Manchuria (1931): The League of Nations condemned Japan’s invasion but took no action to reverse it. Japan would then continue expanding into China.
• Rhineland (1936) and Austria (1938): Allowing German rearmament and the Anschluss (annexation of Austria) without consequences.

Not involving Ukraine or European allies

I know you want to appear tough, Mr. Trump. You think Europeans are weak and incompetent, and you want to take the highlight for ending the war in Ukraine. This will be a massive victory that you can bring back home to your loyal fans, and sweeten it with the fact you not only refused European involvement but even demanded that Europe increases GDP spending to at least 5% [archived version], a figure which by the way, the United States of America does not currently meet, and withdraw American NATO troops from the Baltic region [archived version], but is this a net positive for America?

You might consider stepping back from a long-standing strategic partnership in defence and economic matters with the European Union, but it would be wise to recognise the potential consequences. If you do, don’t be surprised when Europe begins to distance itself from the USA.

As I’ve pointed out before, Europe and the European Union are poised to play a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the Ukraine war and its subsequent reconstruction—whether or not the United States is involved.

Quick deals

Everyone wants the war to end—except perhaps the C-suites of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

You project an image of an experienced dealmaker. And indeed, audacious negotiation tactics can frequently yield favourable results, mainly if you are aware of your intrinsic value and can persuade others that you possess more significant influence than you exhibit.

However, Mr. Trump, diplomacy is fundamentally about deliberate, methodical advancement. Concluding conflicts through diplomatic means is complex, as both parties will insist on a satisfactory resolution, and this can only be achieved if both sides are willing to find a compromise.

It is clear to anyone observing the situation that Ukraine is in urgent need of support in its fight to defend itself against a brutal and oppressive authoritarian regime. The importance of standing together against such tyranny cannot be overstated, as the sovereignty and freedom of nations hang in the balance.

Why do you think the first [archived version], second [archived version] and third [archived version] rounds of negotiations, days after the invasion was first launched fail?

Do you think Russia and Ukraine were simply bad at building a peace deal, and you can do it better without involving Ukraine?

The true nature of the war in Ukraine

Russia is not interested in land. While Eastern Ukraine is rich in resources, Russia wants control and influence over key ex-Soviet nations. Russia has lost leverage principally because of NATO and the European Union. Many of its old soviet allies are now firmly opposed to Russian politics and influence and wish to align with the West.

Ukraine, too, made this decision in 2013, during the Euromaidan protests after Yanukovych suspended EU integration plans. Because of the protests, he fled to Russia. Police forces assassinated many protestors during these events.

The people of Ukraine belong in Europe and wish to distance themselves from Russia. Many have given their life to this cause.

Destabilisation efforts

Since then, Russia has interfered with Ukrainian sovereignty through the use of separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. It has been central to destabilising the country since 2014, part of a broader strategy to prevent Western alignment.

Russia has:

• Spread disinformation
• Used Russian-commanded battalions in Eastern Ukraine
• Supplied separatist forces with weapons and training
• Fabricated false flag attacks [archived version]

Zelenskyy is a dictator

Mr. Trump, this may come as a shock to you, but words have meanings. I know it is hard to understand for someone who constantly posts lies on a platform called “Truth Social”, but the reality is the only dictator here is Vladimir Putin. Curiously, you have never referred to Vladimir Putin as a dictator.

I must remind you: Russia started this war. Russia can end it. You are a liar. Do better.

I understand you may be his friend. After all, Vladimir Putin loves railing against LBGTQ, has murdered the opposition, censors the press, and gets away with it every single time. Something I know you are incredibly jealous of and wish to learn from.

You mention that Zelenskyy has suspended elections in Ukraine, which is a legitimate argument; however, it is essential to consider that one-third of the nation is presently under illegal occupation. Bombardments and shelling occur daily since the onset of the conflict. In such circumstances, facilitating voting is not only challenging but could also result in endangering one’s life. That’s, of course, without mentioning how Russia’s troll farms would be doing their very best to disrupt democratic Ukrainian elections.

You are precisely fulfilling Vladimir Putin’s desires. You are merely a pawn in his game.

No NATO involvement

Why would Putin be afraid of NATO involvement in Ukraine [archived version]? Why would Putin refuse peace-keeping troops on Ukrainian soil? The only reason that can come to mind is because he wants to continue invading Ukraine and destabilising the region, which would be difficulted by the existence of said peace-keeping troops.

It is evident to all that Ukraine requires assistance in its struggle to protect itself from a ruthless authoritarian regime.

I fear, Mr. Trump, you are doing literal decades of American foreign policy, and playing into the tricks of dictators like Vladimir Putin. In doing this, you’re undermining European security, emboldening Vladimir Putin to continue invading and pillaging its neighbours, and making the world much worse for everyone else, except your billionaire friends. Is this how you planned on making America great again?