Donald Trump's promise of strong U.S. leadership must begin with Ukraine

In this historic moment, I suggest reflecting on what truly makes America great and how it can become even greater.

Throughout its history, the United States has fought for freedom. From the War of Independence to the fight against Nazism, this pursuit of freedom has defined the US both at home and abroad.

This deeply resonates with Ukrainians, who also have a long history of fighting for freedom. Generations of Ukrainians have struggled for centuries against Russian imperialism, Nazism, and Soviet terror. With the help of the United States and the free world, Ukraine is now defending itself against Russian imperialism in the 21st century.

As the largest invasion in Europe since World War II continues into its third year, this shared aspiration for freedom unites the U.S. and Ukraine more than ever. There are also numerous practical reasons why continued support for Ukraine benefits the U.S. and President Trump.

"The United States is not at war with Russia, but Russians believe they are fighting the U.S. Putin seeks to outsmart Donald Trump and views the invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to humiliate the United States on the global stage."

Putin’s immediate goal is to destroy Ukraine’s independence. However, his ultimate ambition is to rewrite history post-1991 and dismantle the U.S.-led, rules-based international order. If he isn’t stopped in Ukraine, Putin will attempt to subjugate other former territories of the Russian Empire—from Moldova and Belarus in Eastern Europe to Kazakhstan and countries in Central Asia.

If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, the main beneficiaries will be Russia and its allied authoritarian regimes, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, as well as rogue groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This axis of autocrats is already consolidating amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

A new authoritarian world order would be catastrophic for U.S. interests. NATO would be discredited, and autocrats and dictators worldwide would gain strength. The U.S. dollar as the global currency would be replaced by the Chinese yuan, and many current U.S. partners from the Global South would increasingly pivot toward Beijing. The impact on international security and the American economy would be profound.

A Russian victory in Ukraine would irreparably harm the prestige underlying American power in the world. In 2021, Putin eagerly observed the failed withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Now, he aims for a repeat in Ukraine. The Kremlin dictator believes this would undermine trust in the US while significantly boosting Russian influence in Europe and beyond.

Autocrats friendly to Putin would also draw logical conclusions from Russia’s success in Ukraine and pursue more aggressive foreign policies. This would undermine the security of US allies, including Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

"Trump has the opportunity to prevent this. By decisively supporting Ukraine, he can halt the slide toward World War III and restore US leadership at a time when international stability faces increasing threats from Putin’s axis of autocracies."

It is important to acknowledge the role of President Joe Biden and the bipartisan support from both the Democratic and Republican parties, which has played a significant part in strengthening Ukraine since 2022. At the same time, it is clear that much more could be done. As a Ukrainian, I sincerely hope the Trump administration will go further.

As many commentators note, military assistance to Ukraine is perhaps one of the best foreign policy investments in U.S. history, significantly reducing the military capacity of a key adversary without the direct involvement of U.S. troops. Supporting Ukraine also benefits the U.S. economy, as much of the aid provided to Ukraine is spent in the United States, creating jobs in the defense industry.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a key foreign policy issue for the Trump administration. The outcome of Putin’s war will shape the climate of international security for decades to come. It is now evident that this is not a “minor conflict” that can be resolved through appeasement or compromise. It is equally clear that Western weakness only encourages Russian aggression.

While some Western leaders hesitated, Putin went all in on victory in Ukraine. He has placed all of Russian society on a war footing and is openly preparing his country for the harsh conditions of a prolonged conflict. Believing he will stop without being forced to is self-deception.

Collaboration between Moscow and its authoritarian allies is deepening. Iran is arming Russia with drones and is on the brink of acquiring nuclear weapons. Thousands of North Korean soldiers are fighting on the front lines against Ukraine, while China is accused of providing “significant” support to Russia’s military machine. These nations share a common goal of humiliating the United States and dismantling the current international order.

"To stop Russia, decisive action is required. This includes implementing and strictly enforcing sanctions that cut off Moscow’s financing from energy exports. It also means pressuring all those who directly or indirectly support Russia’s war."

At the same time, military aid to Ukraine must be significantly increased, and restrictions on its ability to defend itself should be lifted. Ukraine needs ironclad security guarantees to protect it from further Russian aggression until it joins NATO. A Trump Plan, modeled on the Marshall Plan after World War II and funded by confiscated Russian sovereign assets, could help rebuild post-war Ukraine.

A just and sustainable peace can be achieved through negotiations. However, these talks must occur in a four-party format involving Ukraine, the US, the European Union, and Russia. In 2014, I was one of the initiators of such a format, established in Geneva. The alternative—leaving Ukraine to face Russia alone—would mean the capitulation of the United States and the entire Western world.

While proponents of realpolitik call for concessions, the reality is that the future of international security depends on the unwavering defense of the rules-based order that Russia is attacking. The West has all the necessary resources and power to achieve this. All it takes is strong leadership from the United States.

Column published in Atlantic Council

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About the author: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Ukrainian politician, former Prime Minister of Ukraine.

The editorial staff does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.