‘Zelenskyy prolonging the killing field’: Donald Trump says he wants to ‘help’ Russia out of a ‘complete mess’

You know, there’s something almost… admirable about Donald Trump’s knack for saying things that leave you questioning whether he’s wildly out of touch, deeply cynical, or just throwing darts at the wall of absurdity for fun.

His latest gem? A declaration that he wants to “help” Russia out of the “complete mess” it’s in, while simultaneously blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for “prolonging the killing field.” Trump, who notoriously withheld military aid from Ukraine in 2019 to advance his own political agenda, is now painting himself as some kind of benevolent mediator. The same guy who publicly fawned over Vladimir Putin, called him a “genius” for the invasion of Ukraine and repeatedly undermined NATO during his presidency. And yet, here he is, wagging his finger at Zelenskyy — whose country has been bombed, invaded, and terrorized by Russia — is somehow responsible for prolonging the war.

Remember Trump’s campaign promise that he could end the war “in 24 hours”? We’re now four months into his presidency, and his brilliant solution appears to be telling Ukraine, “Have you considered losing faster?” Trump’s social media tirade continued with a bizarre historical revision about Crimea, suggesting Ukraine should have “fought for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired.” This conveniently overlooks Russia’s military operation to seize the peninsula in 2014, complete with “little green men” – Russian soldiers without insignia – taking over government buildings at gunpoint.

Russia’s aggression represents the most significant challenge to European security since World War II, and American leadership has historically been crucial in maintaining the rules-based international order. By pressuring Ukraine to accept territorial losses while framing resistance as “prolonging the killing field,” the administration is effectively adopting Moscow’s narrative that Ukraine’s self-defense, not Russia’s invasion, is the primary cause of continued suffering.

As I watch this unfold, I can’t help but wonder: if Maine were invaded tomorrow, would Trump suggest we cede Portland to secure “peace”? Would he criticize the governor for “prolonging the killing field” by defending American territory? The sad irony is that history has already taught us the lesson of appeasement. As Winston Churchill observed after the Munich Agreement ceded parts of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany: “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.” For Ukraine, and for the international order that has prevented major power wars for decades, the stakes couldn’t be higher. And unfortunately, America’s self-proclaimed master negotiator seems determined to mistake surrender for peace.