Supporting Ukraine — peace deal or no — is in America’s best interest

Rightly frustrated with the bellicose intransigence of Vladimir Putin, the Trump administration has threatened to “move on” from Ukraine negotiations.

“We have other priorities to focus on,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

We share President Trump’s dismay at the loss of life and the destruction being wrought by Russia’s forces.

But if he is understandably not willing to escalate the war and increase US involvement, then we would argue that there’s a good case for the status quo.

That means no longer spending time or effort trying to cajole a cease-fire from a failing superpower run by a madman, and a proud people who don’t wish to permanently cede territory with no solid promises of security.

But it also means that the United States continues to do what it has been doing: Sanctioning Russia, and providing aid and weapons to Ukraine.

Despite the agitprop from the isolationists, supporting Ukraine is one of the greatest foreign policy bargains in history.

War lessons to learn

The US has given Ukraine roughly $122 billion in military and humanitarian assistance, but every dollar is well spent. Ukraine is diminishing the fighting power of a geopolitical enemy without putting American soldiers at risk.

Further, much of the money comes back to the US economy through military contracts. And we’re seeing how a modern war is playing out in real time, allowing us to adapt our tactics, such as the use of drones. Ukraine provides our Defense Department lessons in how to build the military of the future.

The mineral deal signed Wednesday with Ukraine also could help offset the costs, and provides important economic benefit and cooperation between Washington and Kyiv.

Also contrary to the critics, Europe is pulling its weight — providing aid roughly equal to that of the US. But it’s absolutely right to ask more from them, as the dangers loom larger for the continent. Dispatch Rubio to Brussels, Mr. President. Extract a promise that they’ll pay for a multibillion-dollar contract with Boeing and Lockheed Martin — it’ll be a win-win for industry and security.

For those podcast defeatists who claim that Ukraine is “doomed,” that they hold no cards, we wonder, then, how to explain how Kyiv has fought Russia to a near standstill?

Why is Putin so desperate that he’s snatching young Russian men out of gyms, that he’s throwing North Korean troops in as cannon fodder? Why does he demand no more attacks in the Black Sea, after Ukraine has neutralized multiple Russian warships?

Don’t embolden foes

Do not underestimate the damage one heroic nation has done to Putin’s twisted dreams. The Russian propaganda machine presents an air of inevitability — the last two years show it just isn’t true.

Peace would be preferred. But it cannot be the peace of capitulation. It would only rescue Russia from a quagmire of its own making, and embolden our enemies in Beijing and Tehran.

Continue to provide assistance and aid. Push the Europeans to offer more. “Move on” from the Putin pantomime, yes, but don’t move on from keeping him at bay. Give Ukraine the support to keep up the fight.