This is February 23, 2025 and the Russians are still attacking Ukrainians. For 11 years, Russians continue to invade Ukraine. For 3 years, they have tried to do even more to eliminate Ukrainians. The free world stepped up, sort of, with tepid response and zero troops to drive the “super power” out of Ukraine. Instead, they came to take photos, shake hands, offer condolences and then return to praise themselves as leaders of the free world.
The United States was the largest supporter of Ukraine from 2022 to 2024, and then came disaster: Donald John Trump, a convicted felon, returned to the White House to finish what Putin could not. As we approach 2025, the fourth year of this conflict, the Kremlin has an agent in the U.S. government, while Ukraine continues to fight off invaders.
Europe has prioritized other issues over military concerns for generations and now scrambles to produce enough weapons to keep up with Russia’s daily attacks on Ukraine, though they have increased their production. Meanwhile, in the United States, Republicans have betrayed the strength of American manufacturing, abandoning the workers who could upgrade the nation’s needs and send outdated materials to Ukraine. Instead, they scorn Zelenskyy, mock the call for increased artillery, missiles, and other weapons, and then leave the battlefield, with lives on the line.
The fact is clear: Russia invaded. Russia can end the war by simply going home. If not, Russia must be decisively defeated, or Europe and NATO will be finished—and so will America.
While people have turned away to their petty social media priorities, Ukrainians fight on daily. The American power is going to crumble. What will replace it’s presence in the void? If Vladimir Putin has his way, Russia will fill that void with its preferred allies, North Korea, Iran and Donald J. Trump.
As we hit the beginning of year four, Ukraine is the crucible of freedom in 2025. You will see which countries will be on the side of freedom and democracy and who have done their party to fortify against the autocratic axis that threatens the world. We are not in familiar territory.