Leftists often claim that the United States of America is a war freak — a standing, indelible reputation carried by history like an unwelcome heirloom. It is a favorite narrative of critics and cynics alike: Washington as the perennial warmonger, the hegemon with trigger happy fingers and a closet full of weapons deals. Fight weak countries, sell arms, bankroll ever-more advanced military hardware — rinse and repeat. For many, this cycle defines U.S. power.

But after four brutal years of war in Ukraine, that narrative has grown more complicated — twisted by geopolitics, hardened by domestic political decay, and dangerously aggravated by MAGA revisionism that undermines alliances while emboldening autocrats. What once passed as a critique of hegemony now collides with a far harsher reality: wars are not fought only on battlefields. They are fought in political myths, disinformation, transactional diplomacy, and the raw nerves of polarized electorates.

Tomorrow, the world will mark four years since Russia launched its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine — a war sustained not by slogans, but by Europe’s collective will to defend its continent and its conscience.

When we were invited for a study visit to the Czech Republic by then Czech Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency Jana Šedivá, and Polish Ambassador His Excellency Jarosław Szczepankiewicz, we requested the opportunity to see the situation on the ground for displaced Ukrainians who had fled Russia’s aggression. Entire families were forced into exile, pouring into neighboring countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, and other EU states.

Both Czech and Polish embassies coordinated our visit to reception centers for displaced Ukrainians. There, we met Nina, a schoolteacher who continued educating Ukrainian children in exile — keeping classrooms alive while their homeland burned. Poland told the same grim story. Listening to children recount bombings, flight, and separation was not merely heartbreaking; it was searing.

What many still fail — or refuse — to grasp is the scale of Russia’s crime. The invasion of Ukraine constitutes the largest military assault on a European state since World War II, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and hundreds of thousands of military casualties on both sides. It is the bloodiest and most destructive conflict Europe has seen in generations, drawing unprecedented international involvement.

When Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, he deliberately branded it a “special military operation,” deceiving the Russian public into believing it was neither a war nor an invasion. Many Russians themselves were victims of that lie.

At the height of the war, a Russian friend of mine protested in St. Peter’s Square in Moscow, wrapping herself in a Ukrainian flag. Her father — a senior figure in the Russian military — warned her to flee the country. If she stayed, he would be ordered to arrest her. The consequences, he said plainly, could be fatal.

For those who still do not understand why this war is illegal and unprovoked, the historical record is unambiguous.

In December 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, surrendering the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Russia explicitly committed to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from the use or threat of force.

Moscow violated that commitment long before 2022.

In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea — seizing airports and strategic sites, coercing a sham referendum under military occupation, and forcibly incorporating the territory into the Russian Federation. That act alone shattered the Budapest Memorandum and exposed Moscow’s utter contempt for international law.

In short, like China, Russia cannot be trusted. Treaties are disposable — mere “pieces of paper.” The logic mirrors how the Philippines’ jailed former president Rodrigo Duterte dismissed the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s delusional nine-dash line.

MAGA emboldens Putin

Morally and politically, the United States and the United Kingdom are obligated to stand with Ukraine. They were not neutral observers; they were signatories who actively encouraged Ukraine to relinquish its nuclear deterrent during the Clinton administration in the name of global peace and stability.

Under Joe Biden, the United States largely honored that responsibility — providing military assistance, financial aid, and diplomatic backing essential to Ukraine’s survival.

Then came Donald Trump.

Trump openly undermined NATO, repeatedly questioned Article 5, threatened to abandon allies, delayed or obstructed Ukraine aid, and reduced U.S. foreign policy to crude quid-pro-quo transactions. His rhetoric — and his actions — signaled weakness, unreliability, and moral vacancy. Predictably, Putin stepped up.

Trump’s worldview is not anchored in alliances, law, or democratic values, but in ego, spectacle, and personal leverage. His foreign policy record reveals a consistent pattern of megalomania masquerading as strength. In Venezuela, he openly flirted with regime change, weaponized sanctions that punished civilians more than elites, and treated a sovereign nation as a chessboard for domestic political theater. He dangled recognition, aid, and coercion not to advance democracy, but to project dominance.

The same delusion surfaced when he proposed acquiring Greenland — not as satire, but as a serious geopolitical transaction — reducing sovereignty, history, and international norms to a real-estate fantasy. It was imperial nostalgia stripped of diplomacy, revealing how Trump views the world: territories to be bought, leaders to be bullied, and nations to be bent to his will.

With Iran, the recklessness escalated further. Trump tore up multilateral agreements, abandoned diplomacy, and replaced deterrence with provocation, pushing the Middle East closer to open conflict while posturing as a peacemaker. The pattern is unmistakable: destabilize first, then claim strength amid the chaos.

I was in Ukraine from 2023 until April 2025, as far as Donbas, and witnessed firsthand the magnitude of Russia’s devastation.

Historical churches and cultural centers were destroyed. Schools, hospitals, pharmacies, and residential homes were reduced to rubble; families obliterated; children left carrying trauma no child should ever bear. These acts constitute wanton disregard for the Geneva Conventions on war. And four years on, as February 24, 2026, approaches, the atrocities are not waning — they are intensifying. Putin sees opportunity to relentlessly attack Ukraine day in and day out, all enabled by Donald J. Trump, an apparent Nazi descendant.

Trump is not merely reckless; he is transactional, corrupt, and fundamentally amoral. He dangles aid as leverage, ties survival to “critical minerals,” and blurs the line between U.S. national interest and personal business gain. It is not America that stands to benefit from such arrangements — it is Trump and his shady corporations.

History will not remember him kindly. It will judge him as an enabler of atrocities, a saboteur of alliances, and a willing accomplice to authoritarian violence.

As for Ukraine, stay strong. I stand with you, and Filipinos will stand with you, because what China is doing to the Philippines now is the same playbook Russia used against you.

Truth, like light, blinds — and no one can hide it, even when falsehood is relentlessly peddled online.

Slava Ukraini. Heroyam Slava!

In Ukraine, everyone has a role to play. As Russia intensifies its brutal aggression against Ukraine, it not only betrays Ukrainians but also the global community—violating the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

Under the Memorandum, Russia, along with the United States and the United Kingdom, pledged not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states like Ukraine. At the time, Ukraine had inherited the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal from the Soviet Union, which it gave up in exchange for these security guarantees.

But those assurances were shattered on February 21, 2014, when Russia invaded and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming historical and cultural ties to the territory—echoing China’s baseless “nine-dash line” claims in the West Philippine Sea.

(The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled against China’s claims, stating that so-called “historical rights” cannot override international law.)

The full-scale war and its impact

Uncontented with Crimea, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022—the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II.

The war has caused widespread death and destruction. Civilians have suffered torture, inhumane treatment, and sexual violence. Cultural landmarks, residential buildings, churches, hospitals, and schools have been reduced to rubble in blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions—destruction I personally witnessed during three years of visits to Ukraine.

The toll is staggering: hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, economic ruin, and a refugee crisis that spans Europe. Ukrainian children continue to live in fear, constantly interrupted by air raid sirens and forced to take shelter underground. For them, this trauma has become the norm.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, we thought wearing a face mask was the “new normal.” But that pales in comparison to Ukraine’s reality. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia has launched 1,451 drones and 78 missiles in recent months, even damaging the Saint Sophia Cathedral—a UNESCO World Heritage site we visited in May. The cathedral is now listed by the UN as a heritage site “in danger.”

The silent heroes, brave to build

While bombs fall, a different kind of battle is being fought—one of resilience, not revenge. Just three months after the invasion, a group of volunteers formed a charitable foundation called Brave to Rebuild, with the mission to “Build Back Better.”

I met some of these incredible volunteers during the Internews Ukraine Media Tour in Kyiv. They are Ukrainians and internationals—architects, builders, and everyday citizens—rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and cultural spaces.

Working without heavy machinery, they rely on manual labor. They demolish, dig, carry debris, and reconstruct structures—brick by brick. At their site in Kyiv, strict safety protocols are enforced for both workers and visiting media, including wearing helmets and reflectorized vests.

Brave to Rebuild fosters a safe and inclusive space. “They have zero tolerance for gender bias, racism, or discrimination,” said one female volunteer. “Even though the tasks are physically demanding, we feel empowered.”

Asked why she joined, one volunteer told me: “This is my small contribution to make Ukraine a better and safe place for the children and the elderly who lost their homes. It is not easy and it will take time. But what is fulfilling for me is I am doing something worthwhile, not just observing.”

Another added: “All of us volunteers share the same values. Ukrainians have such a positive attitude. They don’t wait for things to collapse—they act. We’re here to give them hope, especially the children whose world was turned upside down. Russia already has a huge country—why do this? Destroying homes, schools, hospitals… It’s really crazy and scary.”

Building a future from rubble

Each volunteer takes on different roles—demolishing buildings, clearing debris, restoring interiors, or organizing volunteer events (“tolokas”). Over time, Brave to Rebuild has evolved into a professional team working across Ukraine: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and more.

With over 2,000 volunteers from Ukraine and abroad, they’ve cleared more than 300 areas, restored nearly 200 homes, removed over 500 truckloads of waste, and built around 200 dog shelters for animals displaced by the war.

Volunteer efforts continue every weekend, while specialists handle major repairs of schools, hospitals, and administrative centers. Despite the physical and emotional toll, the spirit of service remains strong.

“We are not just here to rebuild,” said Alyona Krytsuk, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of The Brave Foundation.

“All of us are here to ensure that we create safe living conditions for the Ukrainians affected by the illegal invasion. We may start small, but even with volunteer work, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

Meanwhile, Adam Barredo, one of the volunteers echoed her sentiments: “Volunteerism is heroism for me. Those who should be resting on weekends choose to help. They’re not only brave—they’re selfless.”

He added: “This world would be better if we stopped being selfish and cared for others. Peace in Ukraine means peace for the world. We will not stop, even after peace is achieved. Brave to Rebuild will continue to inspire and support Ukrainians.”

“This world will be a better place to live if we stop being selfish and care for others, and in doing so, we create a peace in this world, and we hope that Ukraine will soon get the much deserved peace, because it’s not only Ukraine that is hurting, the whole world because of one’s person’s selfishness at the expenses of Ukraine and its people. We will not stop doing what we started, even when peace in the world is attained. Brave To Rebuild will be there, to inspire and build not just homes, schools, hospitals and other structures. We will be here to be one of the sources of inspiration of the Ukrainians,” Adam added.

Global support for a grassroots movement

Brave to Rebuild is supported by a wide network of partners including the European Union, GIZ, USAID, HELVETAS, U-LEAD with Europe, Razom for Ukraine, HELP, the Prague Civil Society Center, GlobalGiving, DanChurchAid, and Norwegian Church Aid.

Private sector partners also play a role: Beetroot Tech Relief Fund, Zeilen Van Vrijheid (The Sails of Freedom Foundation), Вчасно, EVO Company, and EDNANNIA.

From war-torn cities to international solidarity, Brave to Rebuild is not just rebuilding structures—it’s restoring dignity, purpose, and hope for a people who refuse to be broken.

For those unfamiliar with the historical context behind Ukraine’s determined defense against Russian aggression, it is essential to understand the facts surrounding the unprovoked and illegal invasion launched by Russia on February 24, 2022. This invasion ignited a full-scale war—Europe’s largest and longest since World War II.

In 1994, Ukraine agreed to relinquish the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal—leftover from the Soviet Union—under the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. In return, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia pledged to respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and existing borders. This agreement was made in line with Ukraine’s accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon state.

While France and China did not co-sign the Budapest Memorandum, both issued separate diplomatic statements echoing support for Ukraine’s security and sovereignty—conditional, again, on Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear weapons. Ukraine fully complied without reservation, trusting that these global powers would uphold their assurances.

It was a monumental act of good faith—and a leap toward a more peaceful, nuclear-free world.

However, this faith was shattered in 2014, not 2022 as some mistakenly believe, when Russia invaded and illegally annexed Crimea. This marked the first blatant violation of the Budapest Memorandum. Then, in 2022, Russia escalated its aggression into a full-blown invasion, aiming to dismantle Ukrainian statehood altogether. These acts represent not only a betrayal of Ukraine but also a violation of international law and a direct affront to the global non-proliferation regime.

The memorandum also stipulated that if Ukraine became the target of aggression, it could seek redress and assistance through the United Nations Security Council. Ironically, Russia—a permanent member of the Council with veto power—became the aggressor.

To put the power imbalance into perspective: Russia is nearly 30 times larger than Ukraine, both in territory and in military might. Similarly, China is over 30 times larger than the Philippines, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion compared to the Philippines’ 110 million. Neither Ukraine nor the Philippines could credibly pose a threat to such giants. Yet both are targets of bullying.

Peace-loving nations like Ukraine and the Philippines have historically shown restraint. But when pushed to the brink, they will not cower. They will resist aggression, as Ukrainians have done valiantly for over three years now.

So, who is to blame for this global crisis?

It is clear: The party that broke its word, ignored international norms, and chose imperial conquest over peace. In Ukraine’s case, Russia betrayed not just Ukraine, but also the world, undermining the very foundations of global nuclear disarmament and diplomatic trust.

The parallel with China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea is unmistakable. When powerful nations use their size to impose their will, they erode the rule of law and endanger global stability.

As the saying goes, “The reason why people fail is not because they are weak—but because they thought they were strong.”

Might does not make right. There will be a reckoning—not always swift, but surely just.

What do you think?