President Donald Trump insists this isn’t his war — that it belongs to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Joe Biden. “This is not my war; it is theirs,” he has said, all from a man who claims he alone can solve the world’s problems.
History, however, leaves little patience for such deflection. President Richard Nixon tried the same with Vietnam, which began under President John F. Kennedy and escalated under President Lyndon B. Johnson. By the time Nixon left office, the war had become his trial — a test that exposed his leadership under intense pressure and shaped his legacy.
Ukraine is now Trump’s crucible. The country is under relentless attack, and he cannot dismiss or deny responsibility. Every decision — from signaling NATO’s resolve to supporting Ukraine’s defenses — will be scrutinized in the harsh light of history. So far, his weakness is evident.
The stakes are urgent. A swarm of Russian drones recently entered Polish airspace, testing NATO’s resolve. Since Trump returned to the White House in January, aerial bombardment of Ukraine has surged. Independent conflict trackers report Russia’s monthly missile-and-drone launches nearly doubled from December 2024 to May 2025.
On the ground, Ukraine is mounting a remarkable defense, repairing infrastructure under fire and demonstrating determination that defies Moscow’s aggression. Meanwhile, Russia has suffered repeated military embarrassments, forcing alignment with North Korea and Iran — a reflection of strategic and moral decay.