US President Donald Trump’s actions have inadvertently given Russian President Vladimir Putin every incentive to continue killing Ukrainians. In April, Trump tweeted “Vladimir, STOP!”, but the Russian president did not halt his offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to end the war “in one day”, it continues, with Russia destroying more of Ukraine from the air and on the ground every night. The US has also stopped sending weapons to Ukraine, citing insufficient stockpiles as the reason, but former officials and analysts dispute this claim.
The US is lifting sanctions on Russia and reducing counter-propaganda efforts against Russian disinformation operations. This shift in policy is helping Putin believe he can win the war. Trump’s appointees have accused independent media of hurting American conservatives, cutting funding to programs that reach Russians with real news about the war.
Trump’s envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, has repeated false Russian talking points and propaganda, helping Putin portray the Ukrainian cause as hopeless and create divisions among allies. This shift in US policy is a set of incentives that encourage Putin to continue fighting, not just defeat Ukraine but also divide Europe and reduce US power worldwide.
Europe, Canada, and other democratic nations will continue to support Ukraine, while Ukrainians innovate and build new technologies to fight back. The US can still help Ukraine win the war by expanding sanctions on Russia, providing ammunition, and supporting Ukrainian narratives.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/putin-trump-russia-ukraine/683414