President Trump’s latest attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator” is not just false—it plays directly into Russian propaganda. Worse yet, his reckless rhetoric risks further emboldening Vladimir Putin, the actual dictator in this scenario.

The facts of this war are clear: Russia, without provocation, launched a brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine, fighting for its survival, has been under martial law ever since. That’s why there haven’t been elections. What does Trump expect—ballot boxes on the front lines?

But Trump, in his eagerness to appease Putin, ignores these facts. Instead, he falsely blames Ukraine for the war and spreads Russian disinformation. This raises the question: is Trump knowingly peddling lies, or is he just breathtakingly ignorant? The answer is probably both.

Either way, his stance is deeply troubling. The United States cannot afford to have a leader who is either too incompetent to recognize reality or too compromised to care. Let’s break this down.

Ukraine’s War-Time Martial Law Is Not Dictatorship

Trump’s claim that Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections” is absurd and dangerous. Ukraine hasn’t held elections because it is in an existential fight for survival. The country has been under martial law since February 2022—because Russia invaded them.

Martial law is an emergency measure, not a power grab. Even in the United States, we’ve had instances where elections were postponed or altered due to war. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and even delayed elections in some places under Union control. Were those the actions of a dictator? Of course not.

Zelenskyy’s legitimacy is not in question. Ukraine has a vibrant democracy, and recent polling from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology shows that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy. That is a far cry from the “4% approval rating” Trump is parroting from Russian disinformation sources. The reality is, Zelenskyy remains the legitimately elected leader of a sovereign country, and his leadership has been crucial in holding Ukraine together.

Meanwhile, let’s talk about the real dictator here: Vladimir Putin.

• Putin has been in power for 24 years—longer than most Russian rulers since the Tsars.
• He rigs elections and jails (or assassinates) political opponents.
• He controls the media and crushes dissent.
• He invaded a peaceful neighboring country and is waging a war of aggression.

Yet Trump doesn’t call Putin a dictator. Instead, he reserves that insult for a democratically elected wartime leader fighting to defend his country. This is not just idiotic—it is dangerous and shameful.

Trump’s Disgraceful Blame Game: Repeating Putin’s Lies

Trump’s claim that Ukraine “should have never started” this war is beyond foolish—it’s outright offensive. That’s like blaming Poland for “starting” World War II when Hitler invaded in 1939.

Let’s be clear once again: Ukraine did not start this war.
✅ Russia invaded Ukraine—not the other way around.
✅ Ukraine did not provoke Russia.
✅ Putin alone made the decision to launch this war.

By blaming Ukraine, Trump is directly echoing Russian propaganda. This is what Putin and his state-run media have been saying for years. They claim Ukraine “provoked” Russia by wanting to join NATO. But Ukraine is a sovereign country—its foreign policy is its own business. No nation has the right to invade another just because it doesn’t like its political choices.

Trump also claims Ukraine has a “4% approval rating” for its president—another outright lie. This number comes directly from Russian disinformation sources and has no basis in reality. The latest polling in Ukraine shows Zelenskyy still commands majority trust. The fact that Trump is parroting false Russian numbers should alarm every American. Is he too lazy to check the facts, or is he deliberately repeating Kremlin talking points?

Trump’s Dangerous Push for Appeasement

Beyond his reckless rhetoric, Trump’s actions show that he is eager to appease Putin. His policies include:

• Demanding that Ukraine surrender territory to Russia—effectively rewarding Putin’s aggression.
• Opposing Ukraine’s NATO membership—giving Putin exactly what he wants.
• Suggesting Russia should be re-admitted to the G7, despite its ongoing war crimes.

Let’s be clear: appeasing dictators never works. History has taught us this painful lesson.

Tom Rogan of the Washington Examiner makes an important point: Russia doesn’t just want Crimea and the Donbas—it wants all of Ukraine. Trump foolishly believes he could negotiate a “peace deal” where Ukraine gives up some land and Putin stops his aggression. But Russia is not interested in partial victories. Putin’s goal is full control of Ukraine.

Trump’s “deal-making” approach is naïve at best and outright dangerous at worst. Any peace agreement without strong security guarantees for Ukraine is worthless. If Russia faces no consequences for this invasion, what’s stopping Putin from attacking again in a few years?

Appeasement only emboldens tyrants. Just ask Neville Chamberlain, who thought he had secured “peace in our time” by giving Hitler the Sudetenland in 1938. We all know how that turned out.

No Sanctions Relief for Russia, No Return to the G7

Some argue that we should negotiate with Russia and bring them back into the international community. This is nonsense.

✅ Russia should not be readmitted to the G7.
✅ Russia should not receive sanctions relief.

The only reason to lift sanctions is if Russia withdraws from Ukraine and stops its aggression. That has not happened. If anything, Russia has doubled down. The idea of welcoming Putin back to the G7 while he is still actively bombing Ukrainian cities is insane. It would send a message that war crimes go unpunished.

Trump’s Personal Grudge Against Ukraine

There’s another factor at play here: Trump’s personal vendetta against Ukraine.

Ever since his first impeachment in 2019—for trying to pressure Zelenskyy into digging up dirt on Joe Biden—Trump has treated Ukraine like an enemy, rather than an ally. This has nothing to do with policy and everything to do with his fragile ego.

As Jeffrey Blehar of National Review points out, Trump hates Ukraine because they became a symbol of his impeachment. He reflexively sides with Putin, not because it benefits America, but because it satisfies his own grudges.

Foreign policy should never be dictated by personal resentment. But with Trump, that’s exactly what’s happening.

The Bottom Line

Trump’s latest comments on Ukraine are not just stupid—they are dangerous. By parroting Russian propaganda and blaming Ukraine for its own suffering, he emboldens Putin and undermines American credibility.

The facts are clear:
✅ Ukraine is not to blame for this war—Russia is.
✅ Putin is the real dictator, not Zelenskyy.
✅ Ukraine deserves our continued support, not betrayal.
✅ Russia should not be rewarded with G7 membership or sanctions relief.

Trump, once again, has shown that when faced with a choice between standing with a free nation or appeasing a dictator, he chooses the latter.

And that should alarm every American who cares about democracy, security, and standing up to tyranny.