The Senate Against Illusions: Why the U.S. Should Not Smile at Putin and Abandon Ukraine

Donald Trump’s statements about Ukraine “prolonging the war” elicited a rare harsh reaction from the American establishment. The head of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, a Republican and one of the key voices on security issues, publicly defended Kyiv — and did so without diplomatic reservations.

His speech was not just a response to Trump, but a systematic reminder of whom the West is dealing with and why the Ukrainian war has long gone beyond a regional conflict.

Wicker began with a broad framework. According to him, the world has entered a dangerous phase: outbreaks of instability are occurring simultaneously in Europe, the Indo-Pacific region, and the Middle East. But even against this backdrop, he highlights one factor as the most destructive — the war waged by Putin against Ukraine, freedom, and the entire Western order.

The senator emphasized: over the past year, the Kremlin has demonstratively mocked any attempts at peaceful resolution. Formally, Moscow participates in talks about peace, but in practice, it only increases strikes and escalation. This, in Wicker’s words, is “peace in words” — a service rendered by lips, not actions.

The key thesis is harsh: Ukraine should not be forced to give up sovereign territories it controls. Negotiations cannot give Putin what he could not achieve on the battlefield. Any other logic, according to the senator, would mean encouraging aggression.

A separate emphasis is placed on the role of the USA. Wicker insists: Washington must participate in long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. If such guarantees are agreed upon, the Senate should ratify them, not limit itself to temporary political promises. Aid to Ukraine is not charity, but an investment in the West’s own security.

Further, the rhetoric becomes as personalized as possible. The senator suggests “remembering whom we are dealing with.” His characterization of Putin is extremely straightforward: a man without remorse, a former KGB agent, a dictator with decades of blood on his hands, the biggest thief in modern history, a war criminal, and a chronic liar. According to Wicker, there is no reason to treat him with anything other than extreme caution and contempt.

He paid special attention to the illusion of a “friendly negotiator.” When Putin smiles at American representatives, he behaves as if he expects trust. But, the senator emphasizes, the USA has no reason to smile back. Sociology confirms this: about 70% of Americans do not believe that Putin will adhere to any agreement with Ukraine.

An important part of the speech concerns Russia’s connection with global terror. Wicker directly draws parallels between strikes on Ukrainian civilians and Hamas attacks on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023. In this logic, Putin is not an exception but part of the same field — his allies and partners are among terrorist regimes and movements.

The senator also reminded of the abduction of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children subjected to forced “re-education” policies. He compared these practices to camps for Uyghurs in China, pointing to the similarity of authoritarian approaches. Repressions against dissidents within Russia are another element of the same model.

A separate part of the speech is dedicated to the “club of exiles,” for whom Moscow has become a refuge. Bashar Assad found protection there. In the event of Nicolás Maduro’s escape, his route, according to Wicker, is also obvious — to Russia. The same applies to the historical support of the Cuban regime and potential scenarios for the Iranian leadership. This is the company that the Kremlin gathers around itself.

The most resonant comparison the senator left for last. In Putin’s rhetoric about “liberating Russian speakers,” he hears direct echoes of Adolf Hitler’s arguments used for invasions of neighboring countries under the pretext of protecting “their own.” The historical parallel, according to Wicker, is too obvious to ignore.

The final conclusion is simple and grim. Ukrainians continue to fight not because they hate peace. But because the alternative for them is the disappearance of their own country. And this, rather than diplomatic fantasies, should be the basis of decisions by the USA and its allies.

For Israel and the region as a whole, this logic has direct significance. Russia has long ceased to be an external observer and is actively integrated into the axis of regimes and movements threatening regional stability. Understanding this is part of the overall security picture, which is increasingly discussed in Washington.

This is why such statements today sound not as emotion, but as cold calculation. This is what NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency writes about, recording a shift in American political discourse from illusions to harsh reality.