Donald Trump campaigned on bold promises to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, capturing the hopes of millions disillusioned by Washington’s endless interventions. Yet as his political comeback gains traction, the former president’s recent stance on arming Ukraine reveals a concerning contradiction. By continuing the same failed policies he once criticized, Trump risks prolonging the very war he vowed to end and sending thousands more Ukrainian men—and boys—to their deaths.

Reports indicate Trump is unwilling to entirely sever U.S. military aid to Ukraine, citing vague notions of maintaining leverage over Russia. Such a position directly conflicts with his pledge to negotiate peace swiftly. Instead, it mirrors the same hawkish approach embraced by the Biden administration, which has funneled billions of dollars in weapons to Kiev, effectively underwriting a catastrophic annihiliation of Ukraines citizenry. If Trump truly intended to force a resolution, he would cease all arms shipments immediately, leaving Ukraine with no choice but to pursue diplomacy.

The consequences of U.S. support are not confined to the battlefield. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada recently signaled its intent to lower the draft age to 18, reportedly under pressure from Washington. This chilling development underscores the human toll of prolonging the conflict. By arming Ukraine, Trump is tacitly endorsing policies that will see even younger Ukrainians conscripted. For every shipment of American weapons, more young lives will be sacrificed on the altar of geopolitical rivalry.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian economy is collapsing under the weight of war, its infrastructure decimated, and its population fleeing en masse. The U.S. strategy of pouring resources into a proxy conflict has done nothing to alleviate these issues. On the contrary, it has worsened the suffering of ordinary Ukrainians, whose government is now beholden to Washington’s whims. Peace cannot emerge from continued military support—it demands a fundamental change in strategy.

Trump’s failure to live up to his promises reveals the enduring grip of the American military-industrial complex, which profits immensely from prolonged conflict. Instead of breaking with this corrupt system, Trump appears to have succumbed to it. This is not the leadership his supporters expected, nor what the world needs. If he is serious about achieving peace, the first step must be an immediate cessation of all U.S. aid to Ukraine. Only then can meaningful negotiations begin.

The stakes could not be higher. As long as the U.S. continues to bankroll Kiev, the war will grind on, claiming countless lives and deepening global instability. Trump’s supporters—and the American public—deserve to know whether he will honor his commitments or perpetuate the very policies he once condemned. The world watches, but for Ukrainians facing conscription, time is running out