Trump's Peace Push Pulls America Out of Biden's Ukraine Money Pit

The Russia-Ukraine war drags on, bleeding resources and attention from America’s core interests. It’s a conflict that erupted under Joe Biden’s watch, a mess born of weak leadership and diplomatic neglect. For three years, the Biden administration sat idly by, funneling billions into a stalemate with no clear end. Now, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are pushing to end this quagmire, and they’re right to do so. America’s strength lies in focusing on threats that matter most to our security and prosperity, not in propping up endless foreign wars.

This isn’t about abandoning Ukraine. It’s about facing reality. Neither side can win outright. Putin can’t conquer Ukraine, and Ukraine can’t reclaim every inch of lost territory. The war has already cost Ukraine dearly, with over 400,000 military casualties and a 22.6% drop in GDP since 2022. Rebuilding will take hundreds of billions, much of which the world expects America to foot. Meanwhile, our own borders, economy, and global standing demand attention. It’s time to prioritize what keeps America strong.

President Trump has spent his first hundred days working to broker peace, talking to both sides in a way Biden never attempted. Rubio, now juggling roles as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, has made it clear: the window for a deal is closing. If Ukraine and Russia can’t bridge their differences soon, America must redirect its energies to more pressing challenges. The question isn’t whether we care about Ukraine; it’s whether we can afford to care more about their war than our own future.

Let’s be clear about how we got here. In 2014, under Barack Obama, Russia annexed Crimea while the administration sent blankets instead of weapons. Fast forward to 2021, and Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal signaled to Putin that America was weak. Months later, Putin invaded Ukraine, emboldened by a president who shrugged off the threat as a ‘minor incursion.’ For three years, Biden’s team did nothing to stop the bloodshed, leaving Trump to clean up the mess.

Contrast that with Trump’s first term. From 2017 to 2021, Putin didn’t dare escalate. Why? Because Trump projected strength, arming Ukraine with weapons that later stopped Russian tanks from taking Kyiv. The recent minerals deal, a win for Trump’s team, secures Ukraine’s economic future while protecting American investments. Yet Biden’s supporters still claim their approach was better, ignoring the chaos their policies unleashed. Their calls for endless aid and NATO expansion only prolong the war, risking escalation with Russia when America’s focus should be elsewhere.

The evidence is stark. Only 23% of Republicans now believe America has a duty to defend Ukraine, down 13 points since late 2024. The public is tired of footing the bill for a conflict with no military solution. Those advocating for more aid often point to moral obligations, but they ignore the cost to American taxpayers and the distraction from bigger threats. Their vision of foreign policy puts global ideals over national strength, a mistake we can’t afford.

While Ukraine dominates headlines, China and Iran pose far greater dangers to America’s future. China’s economic aggression, from 125% tariffs on U.S. goods to intellectual property theft, has gutted American industries. Their military posturing in the South China Sea and around Taiwan threatens global stability. Rubio rightly calls China our top geopolitical foe, and Trump’s tariffs are a bold step to bring manufacturing back home. Behind closed doors, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is working on trade talks, but the broader goal is clear: America must reduce its dependence on a rival that’s been ripping us off for decades.

Then there’s Iran. Their nuclear program is closer than ever to a weapon, thanks to Biden’s lax sanctions. Rubio lays out the path forward: Iran must halt enrichment, open all facilities to American inspectors, and abandon terrorism. If they refuse, the consequences are clear. Trump has vowed to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, by force if needed. Israel, our key ally, demands a complete end to Iran’s program, and we must stand with them. Those pushing for a softer deal with Iran argue it avoids conflict, but appeasement only emboldens a regime that’s been a threat since 1979.

These challenges dwarf the Ukraine conflict. China’s rise and Iran’s nuclear ambitions threaten the global order and America’s security in ways Russia’s regional war never will. Yet some still insist on pouring resources into Ukraine, as if our strength is limitless. They’re wrong. America’s power comes from choosing battles that protect our people and our future, not from chasing every global cause.

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are charting a course that puts America first. They’re pushing for a Ukraine peace deal, but they’re not naive. If talks stall, America must pivot to what matters: countering China, stopping Iran, and rebuilding our economy. The minerals deal with Ukraine shows we can support allies without endless blank checks. It’s a model for smart diplomacy that serves American interests.

The choice is clear. We can keep sinking billions into a war that’s not ours, or we can strengthen America for the fights that define our century. Trump’s leadership, backed by Rubio’s resolve, offers a way out of the Ukraine quagmire and a return to what makes America great: unapologetic strength, focused on our people and our future. Let’s seize it.