As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, alongside billionaire Elon Musk, continue to shift blame onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while avoiding direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their refusal to condemn Putin’s invasion of a sovereign nation raises a critical question: Are they afraid of him, or is there another reason for their silence?
The conflict did not begin in 2022. In 2014, Putin illegally annexed Crimea, violating the Budapest Memorandum, an agreement in which Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees from Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. That betrayal foreshadowed what was to come. Three years ago, in February 2022, Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under the pretext that the country’s aspirations to join NATO posed a threat to Russia.
Since then, the war has killed thousands, displaced millions, and devastated Ukraine’s economy. Despite this, Zelenskyy has remained defiant, leading his country’s resistance against one of the world’s most powerful military forces. Putin’s aggression also backfired strategically—both Finland and Sweden abandoned decades of neutrality and joined NATO, strengthening the alliance instead of weakening it as Putin had intended.
Throughout the conflict, Trump, Vance, and Musk have repeatedly criticized Zelenskyy, yet they have never directly condemned Putin for waging an unprovoked war. President Trump has instead boasted that he could “end the war in 24 hours,” hinting that Ukraine should negotiate on Russia’s terms. Vice President Vance has been a vocal opponent of continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, portraying the war as a costly distraction rather than a fight for democracy.
Musk, initially hailed as an ally of Ukraine for providing Starlink internet, has since echoed Kremlin-friendly narratives, suggesting Ukraine should surrender territory to appease Putin.
This unwavering refusal to challenge Putin leads to a crucial question: What exactly are Trump and Vance afraid of? Are they hesitant to confront a leader known for eliminating his critics? Do they fear the political consequences of standing against Russia? Or do they simply sympathize with Putin’s authoritarian worldview?
Trump has long admired strongman leaders, repeatedly praising Putin in the past. His administration’s stance on Ukraine suggests a shift away from defending democratic allies and toward appeasing aggressors. Vance, who once criticized Trump, has now aligned himself with his boss’s isolationist foreign policy, further reinforcing the administration’s reluctance to challenge Russia.
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History has shown that failing to confront aggressors only emboldens them. If the U.S. withdraws support from Ukraine, Putin will see it as a victory—not just over Ukraine but over Western resolve. Such a move would send a dangerous message to other authoritarian regimes, signaling that military invasions can go unpunished.
As Ukraine fights for its survival, the world watches to see whether the Trump administration will stand for democracy or continue to turn a blind eye to Putin’s war crimes.
Their silence speaks volumes. But the question remains: Is it fear, favor or is it something else?
