
<p>President Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine has become one of the most baffling and troubling aspects of his foreign policy. Despite his reputation for projecting strength and an ability to negotiate, his repeated failure to act decisively against Putin’s aggression has left allies disillusioned, adversaries emboldened, and Ukraine increasingly vulnerable. The latest missed deadline—Trump’s self-imposed two-week ultimatum for Putin to enter into negotiations—has come and gone. And yet, the response from Washington has been a deafening silence.</p>



<p>Instead of curbing his military campaign as Trump has repeatedly demanded, Putin escalated. Russian forces launched one of the deadliest aerial assaults since the war began, with over 600 drones and missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities. Kyiv was bombed again, civilians killed, and infrastructure destroyed. This was not just a rejection of Trump’s deadline—it was a calculated humiliation. Putin made a mockery of the Alaska summit, where he was welcomed with pomp and ceremony, only to return home and intensify his war effort.</p>



<p>Trump’s reaction? Vague threats, recycled rhetoric, and no concrete action. No tariffs. No sanctions. No seizure of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense. No interdiction of ships violating U.S. sanctions on arms and energy sales. No increase in offensive weapons for Ukraine. And critically, no reversal of the policy prohibiting strikes inside Russia with U.S. weapons—even as Moscow continues to bomb Ukrainian cities with impunity, including Kyiv.</p>



<p>This passivity is mystifying. Trump has long cultivated an image of being tough on adversaries. His campaign promises included ending the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. Yet now, faced with Putin’s defiance, Trump appears paralyzed. His repeated statements that he is “unhappy” with Putin ring hollow when not backed by action. “You’ll see things happen,” he told reporters recently—but we haven’t.</p>



<p>Foreign leaders are taking notice. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after the missed deadline, remarked bluntly: “It means that once again President Putin played President Trump”. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa went further, suggesting Trump’s leniency toward Putin was not just weakness, but complicity: “The top leader of the world’s foremost superpower is, objectively, a Soviet or Russian asset.” Ouch!</p>



<p>Even Trump’s own allies in Europe are growing uneasy. Polish President Karol Nawrocki, once a staunch supporter, has begun pressing for more U.S. troops in Poland, signaling concern over America’s waning deterrence. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for tougher measures, saying, “This war won&#8217;t stop with political statements alone. Real steps are needed.”</p>



<p>The consequences of Trump’s inaction are grave. America looks weak. The credibility of U.S. leadership is eroding. European allies are scrambling to fill the vacuum, with countries like the Czech Republic and Denmark ramping up defense spending and arms purchases. But without decisive U.S. leadership, the coalition supporting Ukraine risks fragmentation.</p>



<p>Adversaries are watching closely. China, North Korea, and Iran see a U.S. president unwilling to confront aggression. India, once a strategic partner, is cozying up to Moscow and Beijing in defiance of Trump’s tariff threats. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, where Putin, Xi Jinping, and Narendra Modi stood shoulder to shoulder, was a chilling display of unity among America’s rivals. ; (More about that in a future commentary).</p>



<p>Trump’s defenders argue that diplomacy takes time, that backchannel negotiations are underway. But the optics matter. Hosting Putin in Alaska, praising a military parade in Beijing, and failing to respond to missile strikes on Kyiv sends a message—not of strategic patience, but of strategic retreat.</p>



<p>This is not the Trump who once threatened “fire and fury.” This is a president who set deadlines and let them expire. Who promised consequences and delivered none. Who claimed he could end the war in a day and now seems content to let it drag on indefinitely.</p>



<p>The war in Ukraine is not just a regional conflict—it is a test of the international order. If Putin is allowed to win, it will signal to autocrats everywhere that borders can be redrawn by force, that civilian lives are expendable, and that the West no longer has the will to defend its values.</p>



<p>Trump’s failure to act decisively is not just a political misstep—it is a historic blunder. One that risks reshaping the global balance of power for years to come. And unless he changes course, it may be remembered as the moment America lost its nerve—and the world lost its faith in American leadership.</p>



<p>As readers know, I do not believe it is in America’s or the world’s interest to allow Putin to win at any level. The only positive outcome is defeat. That means the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine and the payment of reparations for the deaths and destruction – and the return of the kidnapped children. A partial victory for Putin is a victory. He may negotiate a ceasefire – even call it a peace agreement. However, his conduct – now and in the past – clearly shows his unrelenting ambition for empire building. He will attack again &#8230; for sure.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

Trump’s Ukraine Policy: A Dangerous Departure from Strength
