Trump changes Russia-Ukraine narrative with human cost argument.

Ending the War in Ukraine: Trump’s Take

Putting Human Lives First

Former President Donald Trump believes that ending the war in Ukraine is more important than determining who wins. During a town hall in New Hampshire, he promised to quickly settle the conflict by pressuring both sides to end hostilities. Trump’s position contrasts with much of the political establishment, which has been locked in the dichotomy of the conflict. Instead, he focuses on the lives of ordinary Ukrainians and Russians, none of whom started or perhaps desired the war.

Stopping the Loss of Life

Trump believes that the loss of life in the conflict has been underestimated. He wants everyone to stop dying, both Russians and Ukrainians. He argues that if he had been in the White House, Putin would not have invaded Ukraine. He also criticizes the EU for committing to Ukraine a fraction of the support the United States has agreed to.

Foreign Policy Bona Fides

While Trump didn’t detail his plan for dissolving the Ukraine conflict, he outlined a direction—prioritizing human lives over declaring winners and losers. If simply ceasing hostilities is the end goal, the United States has leverage over both Ukraine and Russia. Without U.S. financial and military support, Ukraine likely couldn’t continue to fight. On the Russian side, Trump’s push to have the EU commit substantially more money to the war could represent a bargaining chip with Putin. His apparent willingness to talk to Putin further indicates that Trump would be willing to accept him as a party to the settlement.

Global Impact

The Ukraine conflict has had a global impact. Beyond the direct loss of life, the war has affected trade in grains and fertilizer, of which Russia and Ukraine are significant exporters. It has also pushed up oil prices in the West, while discounting Russian oil for countries that still import it, particularly China. The United States and the European Union have committed so much in terms of financial and military resources to the conflict, it’s affected their own readiness to face other adversaries, especially China.

Conclusion

Trump’s take on the Ukraine conflict is centered on the lives of ordinary people. He believes that ending the war is more important than determining who wins. While he didn’t detail his plan for dissolving the conflict, he outlined a direction that prioritizes human lives over declaring winners and losers.