Given our generally non-interventionist views on foreign policy and concerns about public spending, this editorial board does not mind rethinking the United States’ role in the Ukraine war, which has festered for three years. But there’s a difference between prodding an ally — one that has been victimized by another country’s aggression — to accept reasonable terms to end the conflict and blaming the victimized country for its predicament.
Any policy-minded American by now has seen the video footage of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a White House meeting last week. The Republican administration and its MAGA supporters have viciously attacked the Ukrainian leader, despite his admirable efforts to fend off an attack from one of the world’s largest militaries—an authoritarian Russia led by a former KGB thug who has spoken publicly about re-assembling the old empire.
Trump told Zelenskyy he “doesn’t have the cards,” which strikes us as the taunt of a bully. Of course, Ukraine doesn’t have many cards in its fight against a large nuclear power. It’s playing the lousy hand it’s been dealt. Republicans insist Zelenskyy hasn’t been sufficiently obsequious to the United States, which is a point Vance hammered. But Ukraine has been thankful repeatedly. We excuse him any slight failures in decorum given what he’s up against.
Trump fancies himself a master negotiator, but beating up one’s own ally while steadfastly refusing to criticize the aggressor makes one more of a sap than a four-level chess player. Ironically, administration officials while testifying in Congress have refused to even admit that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine. Real negotiations start with honest assessments.
As a further embarrassment, our country voted alongside such paragons of liberty as Belarus and North Korea in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s aggression. Russia’s government has been giddy. American officials refuse to point out the obvious: this war can end any time Russia decides to end it.
Now top U.S. officials are continuing their campaign of haranguing our long-time democratic allies, of threatening to leave NATO and issuing statements that are indistinguishable from those one would find on TASS, the Russian state-run news network. By the way, TASS reporters initially attended that session while the administration denied access to some mainstream U.S. media outlets. Ronald Reagan must be turning in his grave.
The White House meeting struck us as a set-up, which then provided the suddenly pro-Russian administration with an excuse to do what we suspected it has long wanted to do: abruptly suspend all military aid to Ukraine. If the goal is to get Europe to pick up the slack, then why are so many MAGA social-media influencers mocking Europe for stepping to the plate?
Again, some of the fundamental questions are legitimate openers for discussion. Isn’t there some way to wrap up the hostilities? Should the U.S. continue to provide so much aid? How much should Europe pay for its own defense? But that’s not what’s going on here. A master negotiator would assure that both sides offered concessions and would place the blame squarely on the party that deserves it. Instead, the Trump White House is destabilizing the international order and siding with dictators. We’re not sure why, but it’s shameful.
