Dallas Morning News: Trump Must See Standing With Ukraine Protects Democracy

In a recent talk in Dallas, the former world chess champion turned democracy activist Garry Kasparov asked the audience to try to think of a single time President Donald Trump stood up to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin — to try to name any instance when Putin didn’t get what he wanted while Trump folded American, and democratic, interests.

Is it any surprise then that Putin, once again, appears to be getting exactly what he wants, a brutal escalation of his murderous attack on Ukraine with naught but a little tough talk from our president?

After a phone call to Putin that was supposed to be part of a peace negotiation, the Russian president unleashed a destructive and deadly barrage against civilian targets in Ukraine, the worst of the war. Trump responded that he was “very disappointed” and that Putin was “playing with fire.”

“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened in Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

That pregnant turn of phrase has led to speculation about what exactly Trump has done for Russia and why.

The president is now cornered diplomatically. Will he back up his tough talk, or will he walk away and look weak?

We have long urged the president to see what we can all plainly see: Russia under Putin is a threat to the international order and to democratic nations around the world. It is bent on destroying a free nation and subjugating its people. Who will be next if Ukraine falls?

European nations, particularly Germany, have tried to step into the gap of American support. That needs to change. Trump needs to see that some wars are worth fighting, and this is one. The Ukrainian people are not just in this struggle for themselves. They stand as a bulwark for all free people.

If Trump would stand with them, he would demonstrate that he is willing to stand for democracy in Europe and for a world order where might doesn’t make right.

What’s more, he would establish himself as a man not beholden to a tyrant.