How Trump Can Help Ukraine Win The War And Make Russia Pay For It
Key Takeaways
While Russia wages war on Ukraine, America and its allies have been covertly funding Russia. But Trump can make Russia pay and change all of this. Here is how.
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8 min read
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investment
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July 6, 2025
09:23 AM
Forbes
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PolicyHow Trump Can Help Ukraine Win The War And Make Russia Pay For ItByAndy J
Semotiuk, Contributor
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
I write investor immigration and international law issues
AuthorJul 06, 2025, 09:23am EDTWASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Anti-war demonstrators and Ukrainians living in the U
More against Russia's military operation in Ukraine in Lafayette Park on February 24, 2022 in Washington, DC
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Getty Images Three years into Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the U
And other Western countries (especially the EU) are viding tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine with no end in sight
In Trump’s most recent call with Putin, the Russian president showed no interest in peace and later again publicly stated he wants all of Ukraine
Putin resumed bombing Ukraine moments after the presidential call
According to a CBC news report, in June 2025 alone, Russia sent nearly 5500 rockets and missiles into Ukraine
Another report indicates Russia plans to attack Ukraine with 1000 drones a day in August
Western aid has not stopped the Russians
But is there a way that Trump can make Russia pay and change all this
Let’s take a sober look at how Russia is currently funding the war
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Russia’s Theft And Destruction Russia’s war has resulted in over $552 billion in estimated theft and damage to Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure
The breakdown is staggering: $14. 4 billion in stolen industrial equipment $4 billion in cultural theft and destruction More than 1,150 companies seized Nearly $800 million in stolen grain $600 million in looted steel ducts $176 billion in destroyed infrastructure $10. 3 billion in agricultural damage An estimated total of $552 billion in theft and damage—and counting
Oil and Gas: Why Are We Still Funding Putin
KYIV, UKRAINE - JULY 4: A woman with a small dog in district damaged by a Russian airstrike on July
More 4, 2025 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Ivan Antypenko/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images While U
Taxpayers send aid to Ukraine, Western countries continue to buy Russian oil and gas, funnelling money directly into Putin’s war effort
Since February 2022, Western purchases of Russian energy have exceeded three times the aid sent to Ukraine
In short, while Russia wages war on Ukraine, stealing and destroying its assets, America and its allies have been covertly funding Russia while defending Ukraine in slow motion
Continuation of this practice and introducing pauses of U
Support for Ukraine are heading us to Russia’s victory and a shameful retreat for America
MORE FOR YOU How To Help Ukraine Win The War In the spirit of full disclosure, I need to indicate I was the former President of the Canada Ukraine Foundation and am a senior advisor to the Centre for Eastern European Democracy in Toronto
That said, according to minent author and historian Timothy Ash, supporting Ukraine to win the war effort would cost $150 billion annually
But compare that to the $4. 5 trillion NATO will need to spend over the next decade if Ukraine loses
Consider: if Ukraine loses, millions of refugees will ly flood into Europe—headed westward, including to North America
A destabilized global economy will ly ensue
As a stronger, more defiant Russia ly could confront NATO and massive defence spending increases would result
China, seeing the withdrawal of European interest in the East, will be emboldened to strike at Taiwan
North Korea will exert greater assertiveness and power
Let’s face it, the Russian menace is immediate and real, posing a threat not only to Ukraine but to all of us
The reality is China is a long-term adversary we could face one day, but it knows that a Russian defeat will weaken China
This is not an argument for charity or endless American support for foreign wars
It’s thinking and how to weaken America’s most dangerous enemy now while keeping U
Troops out of harm’s way
In short, it’s getting Russia out of all of Ukraine, period
Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. (Photo by MIKHAIL METZEL / POOL / AFP) (Photo by
More MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)POOL/AFP via Getty Images How To Make Russia Pay For It Firstly, the statistics show that the total U
Aid to Ukraine since 2022 is $185 billion
Europe has contributed slightly more
Meanwhile, $330 billion of frozen Russian sovereign assets remain untouched in Western banks
According to Timothy Ash, that money could fund Ukraine’s defence and rebuilding for the next three years alone
America has previously seized Iraqi and Afghan funds for similar reasons
The law can—and should—be d to seize Russian assets now
And America must take the lead
Acts quickly and decisively, its allies Canada, the U. , and Europe will ly suit
That’s real leadership
That’s putting America First
Secondly, it’s time for better thinking in Washington
Europe and others should not be buying energy from Russia but from America, Canada, and our other allies
Let’s remember that America is a net energy exporter, and Canada has great potential to be equally strong
A shift in this thinking would keep Western money in safe hands, create jobs domestically, and cut off the Kremlin’s cash flow
Any country still purchasing Russian oil and gas, such as China, India, Turkey, Brazil, and certain EU member states, should face strict U
Instead of Russia earning three times as much income from selling oil and gas to Western nations as Ukraine has received in aid since February 2022, let’s ensure America and its allies keep those fits, removing them from Russia’s reach
We cannot afford to fund both sides of this war
In short, assisting Ukraine now by funding it with Russian frozen assets and cutting off Russia’s energy income and diverting that income to the West, strengthens America, prevents U
Troops from entering war zones, safeguards our borders, and s U
Taxpayers and other countries trillions of dollars in the future
Why Should We Support Ukraine
For over 30 years, Ukraine has been a vital ally of the United States
From Iraq to Afghanistan and beyond, they have fought alongside American forces in every major conflict since 1991
Ukraine’s dedication to freedom, sovereignty, and partnership has been demonstrated repeatedly on the battlefield and a model for us to
Russia, on the other hand, has taken a very different route
The facts are that Putin’s Russia has been relentlessly trying to weaken the United States
Russia has attempted to interfere in our elections, launched cyberattacks on our energy infrastructure, and supplied arms and funded hostile regimes from Iran to North Korea
These are not the actions of a rival — they are the actions of an enemy
Meanwhile, for a small part of America’s defence budget, Ukraine has significantly weakened Russia’s military forces
Over 1 million Russian soldiers have been either killed or wounded
The once-powerful Black Sea Fleet has been decimated
Russian oil, gas, and weapons facilities are under relentless attack
Russia has become so desperate that it has sent prisoners and North Korean soldiers to reinforce its front lines
All of this is happening because of Ukraine, and without a single American soldier on the ground
Supporting Ukraine isn’t charity
Let’s not forget the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, when Ukraine relinquished the world’s third-largest nu arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from the U. , and Russia
Turning our backs now sends a dangerous message: America’s word means nothing
Instead, we must be that while it’s defending Ukraine, it is also safeguarding our security, moting global stability, and strongly supporting those who our values
Trump’s Next Steps ForwardPresident Donald Trump. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Getty Images The only way to safeguard Americans, their jobs, security, and wallets is evident: Seize frozen Russian assets to pay for Ukraine’s defence now
Encourage Canada and the EU to suit, thereby holding Russia accountable in this way
Expand American and Allied energy exports to replace Russian supplies
Sanction countries buying Russian oil and gasSupport Ukraine to keep American troops and taxpayers off the hook
If we learned anything from our history with the Soviet Union, it is that political change in Eastern Europe is possible even when we are dealing with a nu power
How else would we be now dealing with Russia today
We have demonstrated how Trump can make Russia pay for the war and put an end to it
And that’s what a true America First policy should be
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