Donald Trump smashed decades of US foreign policy today by abandoning not only Ukraine, but all of Europe. He concocted a so-called “peace plan” with of his Russo-bro, Vladimir Putin. Trump’s errand-boy and Secretary of Capitulation, Pete Hegseth, offered the bad news:
He…warned that America will be pulling back from its commitments to European security, renouncing the historic role it has played since the end of World War II, and set out a stark vision in which European governments will bear primary responsibility for their own defense — as well as for that of Ukraine.
Trump added insult to injury, announcomg that he and Putin were now taking control of the Ukraine issue and turning Zelensky into a Russian satrap:
“I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” the U.S. president said in a post on social media.
“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation … Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost!”
Trump seems to believe that he and Putin can simply command the world to obey them and that it will do so. Ukraine, in their scenario, will cease to become an independent entity and instead be captive to Russian and American whim. Zelensky will be summoned and come when he is commanded.
The upshot is that the US is cutting Ukraine loose: no more military aid, forced capitulation to Russian conquest. Zelensky will be summoned and forced to sign away his nation’s rights and lands to a brutal genocidal dictator.
What will Europe do? If the past is prologue, it will not be able to agree on a common front against these bullies. The EU is an unwieldy instrument requiring consensus regarding development and implementation of policies. Russian allies like Orban of Hungary can and will throw a spanner in the works on Putin’s behalf.
Can Europe muster the courage and will to defy Putin and Trump? Can it replace the billions in US weapons which have been instrumental in Ukraine’s defense of its homeland? Is Ukraine a hill which the EU is willing to die on? Can it afford not to stand up to Putin? Is it prepared to become a vassal state?
Trump also notified European collectively that the US would no longer guarantee its security. It too was on its own, left to fend for itself in its tense relationship with the Russian dictator. Presumably, this is the end of European-US coordination in defense matters; possibly the end (or beginning of the end) of US military presence in Europe. This is one of the most radical, shocking developments in US foreign policy in a generation, if not longer.
We are abandoning allies of decades, if not centuries. We are abandoning our ideals and national principles of defending human rights, democracy and freedom at home and abroad. We are retracting from the world. What’s worse, Trump is cozying up to his long-time bosom buddy, Putin, one of the most brutal tyrants on the planet (possibly excepting Kim Jong Un).
America faces disaster. The nation is being torn asunder. It faces a crisis it has not seen since the Civil War. Just as the question of slavery nearly destroyed the Union, Trump soft coup has threatened to destroy two-and-a-half centuries of American democratic government. He acts with blatant disregard for the nation’s founding document, the Constitution. With the flick of his wrist, he destroys federal agencies founded and funded by Congress (another violation of the Consitution). He is in the process of throwing America on the trash heap of history.
Instead of Congress defending its long-cherished prerogatives–it stands mute. The judiciary is captured by his appointed Federalist judges and a rigged Supreme Court. Democrats and those of us opposed to Trump put all our hopes in the last remaining bastion of justice, the courts. But even if they weren’t filled with Trump loyalists, courts only offer relief once a violation has happened. Nor can they act immediately to undo damage. It takes years in some instances to redress wrongs. They are, at best, a thin reed on which to hang our hopes.
Blue states desperately seek to stave off the worst impacts on their residents. But hampered by their limited control of their own destiny in the face of brutalizing federal power, they flail about seeking to devise an effective strategy of resistance.
Ironically, the fascists in government here and in Europe deride the liberal globalist elites peddling their world government conspiracy. The real globalists rule around the globe: Putin, Trump, Meloni, Orban, Milei, Bukele, Vucevic. They coordinate their policies, strategies and political slogans. They are the ones with a global agenda to promote dictatorial centralized power in the hands strongmen, who hollow out government and take control of media, academia, civil society and the business class. Notably, all of these countries are beset by massive corruption and cronyism characteristic of one-man rule. All of them are kleptocracies. And we lead them all.
I lived and grew up in my teen years in the States … I chose for Europe due to fear and violence inside America … ever since 9/11 I felt the fear mongering spreading across the European continent … xenophobia and Islamophobia … NATO got pulled into foreign campaigns and is set to defend the Taiwan Straits … Russia is not a military threat to Europe … the EU and Russia combined were an economic threat to “Wall Street” and the $$$ … my fear is not Ukraine, but the Middle East and genocide of Palestinians. The Hague was known as a City of Peace for over 100 years … Carnegie and donation of the Peace Palace, seat of the ICJ, and nearby the ICC. The United Nations and international law have been undermined by the NWO of Washington DC. With Geert Wilders, the Dutch have gone rogue worse than Washington.
Hegseth by NATO meeting in Ramstein said the highest priority is securing its own borders. The gavel was handed to the UK defence minster as the US took a back seat. Rutte the “Trump whisperer” got hit by a sucker punch. Trump advised Kyiv to hold elections as Zelensky has run out of legitimacy as president of a democratic state. The cost of military aid must be repaid by “rare earth” and critical metals … $500 bn. Real sovereignty … Trump hates losers. Ukraine was Biden’s war 2013-2025. The false war narrative was cut to zero .. see Jeffrey Sachs.
@Oui: “Russia not a military threat to Europe???” What are you smoking?? Putin is a threat to everyone & everywhere: the Baltic States, Ukraine, eastern Europe. I don’t buy your left anti-imperialism.
No, I’m not dogmatic by your definition. I am a Social-Democrat with a philosophy the French Revolution Equality, Fraternity, Justice. I considered myself a globetrotter with free movement across national borders meeting other cultures. The original founding of the EEC by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, established and economic union based on FDR Four Freedoms. By its definition, the EU should have been opposed to monopolies and unipolar imperialism as has developed post 1989.
Politically I’m a centrist, been all my life, in amazement seeing a vast movement passing me on the right in a narrative of enduring wars against “terror”. 9/11 still kills every day as Germany has experienced in recent months. The narrative of Netanyahu has been boosted by hijacking GWB’s war on terror post 9/11, equating Palestinians with Al Qaeda. Terror has increased exponentially ever since.
Biden’s hypocrisy (and Europe’s) to appease Gaza genocide and condemn Russia’s occupation of Russian speaking Donbas has failed to be argued by International standard of war crimes. Trump in his simple mind ended the hypocrisy. Netanyahu and Putin are the same. Hegseth go fix it.
https://odysee.com/@English_Subtitles:b/Jeffrey_Sachs_-_Understanding_the_Ukraine_conflict_minidoc-RiK6DijNLGE.English:b
Respectfully, Richard, the notion that Putin or Russia want to or even have the capability to take over all of Europe is a far fetched proposition.
Consider this, for example. During the most recent Russo-Chechen wars, it took Russia 10 years to subdue the Chechen resistance and “win” the war.
It took the Russians 8 of those 10 years to defeat the Chechnens as insurgents, not as a regular army. Two million Chechens maximum, and the Russians went outright genocidal in their “pacification” campaign against the Chechen people as well. Keep in mind Russia was able to lie to the west that they were “fighting a war on terror” and so there was no political support in the West for the Chechnens, much less billions of dollars in funding and material support up the wazoo.
So when we consider this, the idea that the Russian Federation is going to be able to actively invade and dominate larger nations that have no cultural similiarities with Russia (Ukraine and Russia are extremely culturally and linguistically similar at the end of the day), which are increasingly hostile to Russia in terms of popular sentiment– I just really don’t see that happening.
@ Frog:
I never said or inferred or implied that. I don’t know where you got this impression, but you’re wrong. But Putin doesn’t have to take over Europe. He knows he can’t. But he can co-opt Europe, buy what he can’t bully. Corrupt Europe. Find willing collaborators to do his bidding.
Crimea has historically been a part of Russia and two small regions do not worth the pain and suffering of millions. Not to mention the people dying bc resources that could rescue them are wasted in a stupid war.
This is a cheap price for peace. Of course assuming it will truly end the war. With trump in power for 4 more years, it safe to believe that for that time at least peace will prevail.
Any person who believes in bettering the world should support that.
It pains authoritarian Erdogan it’s not part of the Ottoman Empire … expansionism to envelop the Turkic people … not done yet. Loyal to the erased Tatar people on Crimea.
Encouraging Putin, by saying, he can have anything he invades is not a cheap price for peace. If he gets what he wants with Ukraine he will start to cause trouble on the Baltic state’s borders and then will invade those states “to bring peace”, causing pain and suffering to more millions – Hegseth and Trump have more or less stated that article five of the Nato treaty is null and void, so Putin will test it within a year or so, after he has rebuilt his military.
@ Dudu: Well, an Israeli Putinist. I shouldn’t be surprised that someone living in a country ruled by a fascist should support Russia’s genocide against Ukraine. “2 small regions?” Would the Ukrainians agree to that definition?
You mean like Gaza? Ukrainians don’t find it at all “stupid.” Nor do they appreciate your Ukrainesplaining to them about what they should think or do. They’re quite capable of determining their interests and haven’t asked for your opinion.
OK. You give up the Negev, or Tel Aviv or northern Israel in return for peace. Is it a deal? After all, they’re small regions. Didn’t think so. It’s amazing what someone else is willing to give up on behalf of someone else, which they would rather die than do if it were their own sacrifice.
I believe in bettering the world: end the Gaza genocide.
[comment deleted: Do not repeat comments you’ve already published. You’ve already tried to defend ethnic cleansing in earlier comments. You will not do so again here. I will manually approve any future comments you publish.]
🙏🏽
Pete to Mark: Talk Peace, Not War!
It’s a miracle god … in a single day warmonger Rutte was converted to peace by apostle Trump … I have never caught Mark with the word “peace” ☮️ crossing his lips until today alongside Pete Hegseth @NATO.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_232944.htm?selectedLocale=en
Mark Rutte and Pete Hegseth remarks at NATO Defence ministers meeting in Brussels [video on Internet]
Both speakers full of praise for President Trump.
If Turkiye ends up becoming a major player in European affairs due to Trump pulling out of NATO, the seething from the likes of Von Der Leyen and her ilk will make Trump pulling out of NATO entirely worth it.
Turkiye is practically the only NATO member on the continent whose army and arms industry is in an active state of readiness.
Frog: I don’t think Erdogan is anyone’s bargain. He brings with him a great deal of ‘baggage,’ shall we say?
Some decades ago, as a kid, I’ve been told that while many nations had a constitution, in the US it was just the opposite: it’s the constitution – with its checks and balances – which had a nation.
Now, right now, we watch in awe as this mighty nation – with all its faults, still the bulwark of western democracies – is marching the 1930s avenue.
As horrible as it sounds, Ukraine is probably the small change.
The way it goes, we might be witnessing the dismantling of western civilisation as we thought we knew it.
Trumpification of Europe on the way …
JD Vance in Munich 😅 in support of AfD and neo-Nazis.
https://www.dw.com/en/msc-2025-scholz-to-speak-after-irritating-vance-diatribe/live-71599568
Vance said. “What I worry about is the threat from within: the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values — values shared with the United States of America. Across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.”
The U.S. passed the point of no return many moons ago … no options left for self-cleansing as the separation of powers has crumbled. SCOTUS leading … presidential immunity … bah.
In presentation FDR’s Four Freedoms Award, NATO boss used the Netanyahu tactics (Hasbara) to invoke Anne Frank, Nazi German occupation of the Netherlands and the symbols of the Holocaust. Hypocrisy in the most ugly form by Mark Rutte. 🤢 sickening abuse of the Jewish people.
https://www.government.nl/documents/speeches/2024/04/11/speech-pm-rutte-presentation-international-four-freedoms-award
Save Ukraine to help war refugees is a recipient of USAID.
Palestinian children in Gaza be damned … Rutte was leading to pull funding of Human Rights groups while in one of many “caretaker” phases of his rule as PM … he too pulled UNRWA funding at the whim of genocidal Netanyahu … in the footsteps of strong men …