When Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency, one of his key promises was to end America’s endless foreign wars. Many of us, myself included, hoped that meant finally pulling back from the conflict in Ukraine—a war that I never believed the United States should have gotten involved in in the first place. The U.S. sending weapons and military support to Ukraine has never had broad public support, and it has only served to escalate tensions with Russia. So when Trump announced a new deal to arm Ukraine alongside NATO allies, it felt like yet another campaign promise broken.
I wanted to believe Trump would bring us out of this dangerous conflict, not deepen our involvement. The truth is, U.S. involvement in Ukraine has always carried the risk of pushing us closer to a direct confrontation with Russia. Even before Trump took office, the flow of arms and aid to Ukraine made it inevitable that the conflict could escalate beyond proxy warfare. Now, Trump’s deal to supply advanced weapons and his threats of severe tariffs on Russia only serve to ratchet up the tension. These moves don’t bring peace; they edge us closer to war.
It would have been far simpler and wiser to pull out of Ukraine altogether. Many Americans, across the political spectrum, never wanted to see U.S. troops or weapons funneled into this conflict. Instead of fostering peace, Trump’s new approach doubles down on aggression—arming Ukraine heavily, demanding European allies foot the bill, and threatening harsh economic sanctions on Russia. This not only undermines diplomatic efforts but risks dragging the U.S. into a larger, more dangerous war.
The path to peace would have been clear: remove U.S. support, press for negotiations, and de-escalate tensions rather than inflame them. Trump had the chance to fulfill his promise to end America’s involvement in foreign wars but chose instead to reinforce it. This deal is not just a political betrayal—it is a step toward conflict that should concern every American who wants to avoid another catastrophic war.