What I'm Reading

The war in Ukraine will end when Putin loses, or at least when he realizes he can't win. Many in the West still mistakenly believe a deal can be struck with him. But we've got to realize Putin isn't just waging a war over territory, he's trying to erase Ukrainian identity, destroy post-WW2 international norms, and challenge the democratic ideals that threaten his regime.

Sure, Trump's relationship with Putin is complex. He admires unchecked power and sees Putin as a kind of ally, even friend. Over decades, Trump has benefited financially from Russian ties, this isn't a conspiracy, it's well documented. And while some in Washington are pushing for stronger sanctions, there are still people in his orbit looking to cut deals with Russia for personal or financial gain.

Putin, meanwhile, miscalculated the whole thing right from the start. He underestimated Ukraine's resistance and the West's willingness to support it. Now, his strategy has always had 3 parts:

1. Rebuild a Russian empire, with Ukraine forcibly brought back into the fold.

2. Crush the democratic and anti-corruption ideas born from the 2014 Maidan revolution.

3. Undermine the global rules-based order to build a world where might makes right.

Countries like Hungary and Slovakia have taken different stances, largely due to internal corruption, economic dependence, or political self-interest. Hungary's leader, Viktor Orban, has openly chosen to side with Russia, even while facing protests at home. The EU needs to rethink its approach to such members, maybe even consider a suspension of their voting rights - that could be a start. They're a hindrance to Europe's geopolitical position, and a "useful idiot", Russia's Trojan horse.

It's no surprise that Putin doesn't understand the power of democratic ideas or the depth of Ukraine's national identity. But the West must understand this: the war ends only when Putin fails. If he doesn't, the rest of us in Eastern Europe are next.