A War We Cannot Abandon
The war in Ukraine grinds on, a brutal testament to human resilience and suffering. For over three years, Ukrainians have fought not just for their homeland but for the very principles of sovereignty and freedom that define a just world. Yet, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood at Le Bourget Airport in Paris on April 18, 2025, his words carried a chilling message: the United States, after pouring billions into Ukraine’s defense, is ready to walk away. This is not a strategic pivot; it’s a betrayal of our moral duty to stand with a nation under siege.
Rubio’s remarks, delivered with the urgency of a man on a deadline, framed the conflict as a distant problem, one the U.S. neither started nor owns. He spoke of President Trump’s 87 days of effort to end the war, as if time alone could measure commitment. But for those of us who believe in the power of principled leadership, this rhetoric rings hollow. The U.S. has been a beacon of hope for Ukraine, providing $174 billion in aid since 2022. To abandon that role now, when diplomacy teeters on the edge of collapse, is to forsake the very values we claim to champion.
The stakes could not be clearer. Ukraine’s fight is not just about borders; it’s about the survival of a democratic ideal in the face of autocratic aggression. If we turn our backs, we risk emboldening tyrants everywhere, from Moscow to Beijing. The Biden administration, for all its flaws, understood this, rallying allies and sustaining Ukraine’s defense. Now, with Trump’s team signaling retreat, the question looms: will America stand by its allies, or will we leave Ukraine to fend for itself?
This is not a moment for half-measures. As Rubio himself admitted, the war has no military solution. Thousands have died—most recently in a missile strike in Sumy on Palm Sunday—and more will perish without a durable peace. Yet, the path to peace demands unwavering commitment, not ultimatums. By threatening to ‘move on’ in days, the U.S. undermines its own leverage and sends a dangerous signal to both Ukraine and its European allies.
Europe’s Burden, America’s Responsibility
In Paris, European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped into the void left by America’s wavering resolve. They hosted urgent talks, pushing for a peace framework that includes robust security guarantees for Ukraine. These guarantees are no abstract concept; they are the lifeline Ukraine needs to ensure Russia does not simply regroup and attack again. Zelenskyy has been clear: without enforceable deterrents, any ceasefire is a pause, not a resolution.
Europe’s commitment is inspiring but insufficient. The EU has provided more financial aid to Ukraine than any other bloc, and discussions of a Franco-British-led ‘reassurance force’ show real courage. Yet, the scale of the challenge—potentially 100,000 peacekeepers and a modernized Ukrainian military—requires American leadership. The U.S. has the military and economic clout to make such a force credible, yet Rubio dodged specifics on security guarantees, offering vague assurances about Ukraine’s right to self-defense. This is not leadership; it’s deflection.
The historical precedent is sobering. In 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum, trusting assurances from the U.S., UK, and Russia to protect its sovereignty. Those assurances proved worthless when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and invaded in 2022. Today, as Ukraine seeks binding commitments, the U.S. hesitates, pushing Europe to bear the burden. This reluctance ignores the reality: a stable Ukraine strengthens global security, a priority America cannot outsource.
Some argue the U.S. has done enough, pointing to the $128 billion in direct aid and the bolstering of NATO. They claim other crises—Iran’s nuclear ambitions, tensions in Asia—demand our focus. But this is a false choice. The Ukraine war has reshaped global conflict resolution, exposing the fragility of non-binding assurances and the need for robust alliances. Walking away now would not just weaken Ukraine; it would erode trust in American leadership worldwide.
The Cost of Inaction
The Trump administration’s impatience is not just shortsighted; it’s reckless. Rubio’s talk of ‘other priorities’—a veiled reference to domestic politics and strategic competition with China—ignores the interconnectedness of global stability. The war’s ripple effects are already clear: revived bloc politics, strained international institutions, and a rules-based order under siege. If Ukraine falls, the West’s credibility falters, inviting further aggression from rival powers.
Recent U.S. actions only deepen the concern. Joining Russia to block a UN Security Council resolution condemning Moscow’s actions was a stunning reversal, alienating European allies who see Ukraine’s fight as their own. The temporary suspension of military aid earlier this year, only lifted after Ukraine agreed to a shaky ceasefire, showed a transactional approach that prioritizes deals over principles. These moves contrast sharply with the EU’s steadfast support, including plans for Ukraine’s reconstruction and EU membership.
To those who say peace talks are futile, consider the alternative: a prolonged war that kills thousands more and destabilizes Europe. Rubio’s own words acknowledge this, noting the futility of a military solution. Yet, his threat to abandon talks in days undermines the very diplomacy he claims to support. Sustainable peace requires patience, not ultimatums, and a commitment to Ukraine’s security that only the U.S. can fully anchor.
A Call to Stand Firm
The path forward is daunting but clear. The U.S. must recommit to Ukraine, not with half-hearted gestures but with the full weight of its diplomatic and economic power. This means backing European efforts for a reassurance force, providing concrete security guarantees, and staying at the table, no matter how grueling the talks. Anything less betrays Ukraine and weakens the global order we’ve spent decades building.
As the next round of talks looms in London, the world watches. Will America rise to its responsibility, or will we leave Ukraine to face an uncertain future alone? The answer will define not just this war but our place in a world where freedom and justice still matter. Let’s choose to stand firm, for Ukraine and for the principles that bind us.