AMERICA: The End of Democracy?

It has been a month since Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, and it has felt like the most exhausting month of my life. Unfortunately, I doubt I’m alone in feeling this way. Trump entered office amid a storm of controversy, swiftly signing Executive Orders and upending the global status quo—something we’ve discussed before. However, his unexpected shift in policy toward Ukraine has taken many by surprise.

In this blog post, I want to share my thoughts on the events of the past few days. What would a U.S. withdrawal from Europe look like? Is America drifting toward Russia and turning its back on Ukraine?

A FLIPPED SCRIPT

The U.S. and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to begin potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. However, Ukraine was notably absent from the table, and the U.S. appeared to treat Russia as the victim in this war of aggression. The talks led nowhere, leaving European allies confused and Ukraine deeply uneasy.

The U.S. delegation included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. On the Russian side, seasoned figures such as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin’s chief foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, represented the Kremlin.

The meeting marked a stark shift from the Biden administration, which had openly condemned Putin as a terrorist and sought to isolate Russia.

The key takeaways? The U.S. and Russia agreed to work on rebuilding diplomatic relations, a vague peace plan was mentioned, and discussions focused heavily on Ukraine’s upcoming presidential elections.

In true Trump fashion, the meeting prompted him to take to Truth Social, where he labeled Zelenskyy a dictator and went so far as to blame him for starting the war.

BOMBSHELL!

I'll be honest—I’m at a loss for words. I’ve been shocked many times over the past month, but this truly takes the cake. How dare he call Zelenskyy a dictator while fawning over Putin like a starstruck teenager idolizing the school jock? There is only one dictator in this equation: Vladimir Putin. He has held power since 2000, and not a single election under his rule has been free or fair.

Beyond the sheer absurdity of Trump’s statement, it sets a dangerous precedent—one that amplifies Russian propaganda and distorts the truth. Europe is now at a critical crossroads. Our greatest ally has become our greatest liability. The question is: will Europe rise to the challenge, strengthen itself, and step up in America’s absence? Or will we cower, powerless, as our so-called protector turns into a bully?

Honestly, I don’t know. European leaders have held countless meetings in recent days, undoubtedly discussing things that won’t make it into the public eye. But the time for talking is over. We need action. We need to invest in weapons, increase aid to Ukraine, and fill the void left by the U.S. Most importantly, we need to stand firm.

This isn’t about turning our backs on America—it’s about proving to Trump that Europe can stand on its own two feet.

CONCLUSION 

This is just a brief post because I felt the need to address Trump’s absurd remarks. There is no truth in what he says. Europe has given about US$258 billion in combined aid to Ukraine, while USA has given about US$124 billion. The only place USA wins, by a very small margin, is in military aid. USA provided about $67 billion to about $65 billion for Europe.

Zelenskyy remains Ukraine’s legitimate president until free and fair elections can be held—when the country is at peace, and every citizen can safely vote. And let’s put another myth to rest: Zelenskyy is not just a "dumb comedian." He has proven himself to be the greatest wartime leader of our generation.

No one wants this war to end more than the Ukrainians themselves. But peace will never come by surrendering to the demands of Russia or the U.S. The sacrifices, the suffering, the bloodshed—all of it means something. Ukraine is not fighting just to give up.

And let’s be real—if elections were held today, Valerii Zaluzhnyi would likely win. And he’s not a man interested in compromise; he’s a man determined to make Russia pay. Putin will not win. He has lost at every turn, and he will continue to lose.