Washington’s Capricious Behavior Threatens Ukraine’s Independence

President Donald Trump’s policy toward Ukraine can be described as unpredictable at best, but, at worse, he is doing everything possible not merely to hinder Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s latest wave of aggression but quite obviously to help Moscow fulfill its age-old mission of subjugating and eradicating the Ukrainian nation.

Washington’s capricious behavior comes at a time when “old” Europe, the former captive nations and regional blocs have criticized President Trump for singlehandedly abandoning Ukraine and endangering not only its independence but also the freedom of the free world. To be sure, it is difficult to find a national capital that does not believe that if Ukraine falls to Russian aggression, so will other countries up to the Atlantic Ocean.

Moscow’s historical saber rattling is raising anxiety across Europe and political advisers are urging it to dramatically ramp up its defenses against a resurgent Russia, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in an interview with The New York Times published on July 5. Rutte has been navigating NATO through a dangerous period marked by Russia’s ongoing expansionist ambitions and doubts about the reliability of the United States as an ally.

“Russia is reconstituting itself at a pace and a speed which is unparalleled in recent history,” he told the newspaper, adding that “...they are now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as the whole of NATO is doing in a year. This is unsustainable, but the Russians are working together with the North Koreans, with the Chinese and Iranians, the mullahs, in fighting this unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”

All of this serves as a hellish omen for the Third World War.

Rutte emphasized the interconnectedness of security across different regions, noting that a secure Arctic is vital due to increased Chinese and Russian activity, and a secure Atlantic is “crucial” for the US. “If the Arctic, if the Atlantic Ocean, if Europe is not secure, the US has a big problem,” Rutte said, arguing that Russia is ultimately aiming to attack the US, a hypothesis that should make Washington as well as Ottawa stand up and pay attention to Moscow’s intentions.

Several European countries are also independently bolstering their weapons production, stepping up military drafts and reinforcing the front line between their countries and Russia.

The Estonian Defense Forces and the Estonian Center for Defense Investments will begin constructing anti-tank ditches along Estonia’s southeastern border. The ditches are part of the Baltic Defense Line initiative, designed to halt a potential enemy military attack right from the first yards of the national border.

The anti-tank ditches will be built in Setomaa Parish, in close proximity to the Estonian-Russian border. In the future, the ditches will be integrated into a broader defensive zone – a strategically positioned network of defensive support points that will include accommodation facilities, barrier elements, storage areas and other infrastructure.

“The development of the Baltic Defense Line is progressing at a rapid pace. At the end of last year, large quantities of barbed and tripwire, dragon’s teeth, and T-Wall roadblocks arrived,” Armin Siilivask, the project manager for the Baltic Defense Line at the Estonian Center for Defense Investments, said in a statement.

“We are about to announce the procurement of concrete bunkers, and the first defense strongpoints should be completed in the autumn. The construction of these anti-tank ditches supports the overall integrity of the Baltic Defense Line.”

Kaja Kallas, former Estonian politician and vice-president of the European Commission, observed that Russia isn’t seeking peace but rather it is playing games and Russia has escalated its attacks. “The only option is to put more pressure on Russia to negotiate seriously,” she said.

Kallas also observed: “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor. Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.”

Unfortunately, the leader of the free world still isn’t convinced that Vladimir Putin’s unending manifest destiny is to return Ukraine and Ukrainians to captivity. Russian officials have constantly accentuated this objective in private and public statements but it has fallen on Washington’s deaf ears.

Most recently Putin reiterated during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that all of Ukraine belongs to Russia. “Where the foot of a Russian soldier steps, that is ours,” Putin stated.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly condemned Putin’s remarks as “deranged,” accusing him of disregarding US and international peace efforts. Sybiha wrote on X that Russia’s dictator was demonstrating “complete disdain” for calls to end the killing, instead discussing plans to seize more Ukrainian territory and cause further loss of life.

"Hundreds of Russian drones and ballistic missiles rained down on the Ukrainian capital. Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on purpose. Enough of waiting! Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war."

Consequently, Trump’s belief in the merits of negotiating peace and stability in Ukraine and the evacuation of the Russian invaders is ill founded. 

Speaking at a NATO press conference in The Hague on June 25, President Trump flippantly said it was possible Russia could target other countries beside Ukraine. When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine, Trump replied, “it’s possible.”

“I know one thing: He (Putin) would like to settle (the war). He’d like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him,” he added without any explanation.

International observers have noted the cynical nature of conversations between Putin and Trump, with the Russian fuhrer toying with the American president’s naivete despite his complaints regarding Moscow’s pigheadedness. 

Even though Ukraine has successfully hit targets far inside Russia, last week Moscow deliberately carried out a massive air attack on Kyiv just hours after the phone call between Putin and Trump. “The message sounds something like this: ‘Don’t interfere and don’t help Ukraine.’ Putin still wants all of Ukraine, to have our state within Russia’s sphere of influence. And he’s trying to achieve this by striking the rear, because he can’t accomplish his objectives on the front lines,” Center for Countering Disinformation Chief Andrii Kovalenko  wrote on Telegram.

Consequently, the number of civilian deaths and casualties has been dramatically rising.

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration’s fatal decision to halt deliveries of key military aid to Ukraine has caught Ukraine and European partners off guard and prompted urgent requests for clarification, Bloomberg reported on July 2, citing unnamed sources.

The pause affects the delivery of several weapons critical to Ukraine's defense, including Patriot air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery shells, Hellfire missiles, and munitions for F-16 fighter jets.

The White House confirmed the hold, describing it as part of a broader reassessment of U.S. military stockpiles.

This stoppage will certainly encourage Russia to step up its aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities, notably residential buildings.

In addition to drones and missiles, Moscow has begun using dreaded chemicals against in its war against Ukraine. Dutch and German intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including dropping a choking agent from drones to drive soldiers out of trenches so they can be shot.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

“The main conclusion is that we can confirm Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons,” he told Reuters.

“This intensification is concerning because it is part of a trend we have been observing for several years now, where Russia’s use of chemical weapons in this war is becoming more normalized, standardized, and widespread.”

The halt has initiated debate over the future of US support for Ukraine.

Lawmakers from both parties, including Republican Congressman  Michael McCaul, expressed frustration at the lack of advance notice. “Now is the time to show Putin we mean business,” McCaul wrote on X.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson also reacted to the halt, warning of its consequences amid Russia’s ongoing strikes.  

“As Americans begin to enjoy the sounds of fireworks in celebration of our nation’s independence, war criminal (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, who is losing his pathetic war, resorts to scorched earth tactics across Ukrainian cities that predate Moscow's existence,” Wilson wrote.

Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, the co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, castigated the decision in a post on X.

Fitzpatrick, a staunch ally of Ukraine who has previously visited the front line, said he “will be aggressively looking into this matter and will be demanding accountability.”

“We must build up our own Defense Industrial Base here in the U.S. while simultaneously providing the needed assistance to our allies who are defending their freedom from brutal invading dictators. To not do both is unacceptable,’ the Congressman added.

In a letter to Trump about the reported halt of air defense deliveries, Fitzpatrick requested an emergency briefing from the White House and DOD on the shipments.

“Ukraine’s courage must continue to be met with action, and the United States must continue to lead with clarity and purpose,” Fitzpatrick wrote.

Fortunately, there is a lone voice in support of Ukraine emanating from Washington. Trump’s selection to be the top US general in Europe told senators that he believes Ukraine can win its war against Russia.

“I think Ukraine can win,” Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said during his Senate nomination hearing. “I think any time your own homeland is threatened, you fight with a tenacity that’s difficult for us to conceive of.”

Certainly, this war is far from over. Ukraine is making regular successful aerial, naval and ground strikes against Russian military and commercial targets deep in enemy territory. However, for the safety and security of Ukraine and the free world, this war must come to a conclusion with Ukraine’s victory and Russia’s evacuation from all 24 oblasts of Ukraine as well as Crimea.