In a move that will go down as one of the most shameful betrayals in modern history, the U.S. and Russia took a major step toward softening relations today in Saudi Arabia—an act of stunning weakness and outright capitulation. After years of attempting to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for his violent invasion of Ukraine, the Trump administration has now abandoned any pretense of justice and instead chosen to negotiate with the very dictator responsible for war and chaos.
In the most detailed talks between the two nations in over three years, Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled a complete reversal of U.S. policy, shifting from isolating and punishing Moscow to practically rolling out a welcome mat for the Kremlin’s ambitions.
The three catastrophic takeaways from this disgraceful meeting:
- The U.S. and Russia will restore and expand their diplomatic presence—because, apparently, embassy closures were just a temporary inconvenience.
- The two nations will increase economic ties—handing Putin a financial lifeline just as sanctions were beginning to take their toll.
- Most damning of all: The U.S. has agreed to negotiate “peace” in Ukraine without Ukraine’s president even being present.
This is nothing short of a stab in the back. Instead of standing firm with its European allies and the Ukrainian people, the U.S. has now decided to engage directly with Russia, sidelining Ukraine in its own war. And to add insult to injury, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz admitted to CNN that the U.S. is now willing to discuss whether Russia will keep the land it has stolen from Ukraine in the past three years.
Let that sink in. The Trump administration is now openly considering rewarding Putin’s aggression.
Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov smugly called the talks “fruitful.” Lavrov said they “not only listened but also heard each other.” How convenient. If only the same courtesy had been extended to the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who have died fighting for their country.
Trump and his team claim this is about “achieving peace” and “saving lives,” but make no mistake: This is surrender. This is a message to every rogue regime that brute force works, that America’s promises are meaningless, and that dictators can seize land, slaughter civilians, and still be welcomed to the table with open arms.
This is not diplomacy. This is the ultimate betrayal of American values, American allies, and every soldier who has fought against tyranny. History will not forget this moment. And neither should we.
