1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

The clash between President Trump and President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office marked a defining moment in the United States' stance towards defending democracies against authoritarian aggression. Trump's open hostility and lack of support for Ukraine, a democracy under attack by Russia, signaled a shift away from longstanding American values of promoting democratic allies and countering autocratic powers. The confrontation underscored Trump's apparent affinity for Putin's Russia rather than solidarity with Ukraine, a nation courageously resisting invasion by its much larger neighbor. By dismissing Ukraine's security concerns and lecturing Zelenskyy in front of cameras, Trump effectively sided with the Russian autocrat over the democratically elected Ukrainian leader. This departure from decades of U.S. foreign policy norms that viewed democratic states as better allies and partners cannot be ignored. Alignment with Putin's revisionist ambitions against a democratic Ukraine jeopardizes American leadership in upholding rules-based international order and risks emboldening further aggression by authoritarian regimes. In the interest of preserving America's commitment to democratic values, human rights, and the sovereignty of free nations, it is vital to decisively reject Trump's accommodating stance towards Putin. The United States must reaffirm its support for Ukraine's right to self-defense and its aspiration to join Western democratic institutions like NATO. Backing down in the face of Russian hostility would undermine America's credibility and embolden autocrats worldwide.