While the outgoing administration continues writing blank checks for endless conflict, President-elect Trump is already delivering on his campaign promise to end foreign wars through strength and smart diplomacy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement of a potential Trump meeting “before New Year” and his newfound optimism for peace represents a stunning vindication of America First foreign policy—achieving breakthrough results before Trump even returns to the Oval Office.
The contrast couldn’t be starker. After nearly three years of the Biden administration’s proxy war approach—funneling over $100 billion in taxpayer funds with no clear exit strategy—Trump’s mere election victory has catalyzed serious peace negotiations. Zelensky’s willingness to discuss a 20-point peace framework and propose demilitarized economic zones in contested regions signals that world leaders understand a new sheriff is coming to town, one who prioritizes American interests over globalist nation-building fantasies.
This diplomatic momentum exposes the fundamental bankruptcy of the Washington establishment’s approach to Ukraine. Rather than leveraging America’s considerable influence to broker sustainable peace, the Biden administration chose the path of maximum financial commitment with minimal strategic oversight. The result? American taxpayers shouldering an enormous burden while Ukrainian and Russian casualties mounted, and no serious peace talks materialized until Trump’s electoral mandate changed the entire calculus.
The president-elect’s transactional approach to international relations is already paying dividends. Unlike the ideological rigidity that characterizes globalist foreign policy, Trump understands that sustainable peace requires addressing the legitimate security concerns of all parties while protecting American interests. His business background enables him to see opportunities for economic cooperation where career diplomats see only military solutions.
Zelensky’s proposal for economic zones in contested areas reflects this pragmatic mindset. Rather than fighting indefinitely over territorial control, the Ukrainian president now envisions turning former battlegrounds into productive economic partnerships. This shift from military confrontation to commercial cooperation represents exactly the kind of win-win thinking that America First diplomacy enables.
The constitutional implications of this breakthrough cannot be overlooked. For too long, foreign policy has been managed by an unaccountable administrative state that treats congressional war powers as mere suggestions. Trump’s direct engagement with world leaders reasserts presidential authority over international relations while ensuring that American involvement serves clearly defined national interests rather than bureaucratic momentum.
European allies are taking notice as well. The prospect of Trump’s return has already prompted increased defense spending commitments from NATO partners who recognize they can no longer rely on American taxpayers to subsidize their security indefinitely. This rebalancing of alliance responsibilities strengthens American sovereignty while encouraging European strategic autonomy—a development that benefits all parties.
The timing of these peace overtures, coinciding with continued Ukrainian military operations, demonstrates that Trump understands Reagan’s maxim about peace through strength. Unlike the previous administration’s approach of unconditional support regardless of strategic outcomes, Trump’s framework creates incentives for realistic negotiations by maintaining pressure while offering genuine pathways to resolution.
Patriots should recognize this development as the first major validation of Trump’s promise to prioritize American interests in foreign policy. The same establishment figures who insisted that Trump’s approach would destabilize international relations are now witnessing how decisive leadership actually enhances American influence while reducing our financial exposure to regional conflicts.
As Trump prepares to assume office, this Ukraine breakthrough sets the stage for similar decisive action across other global flashpoints where American resources have been squandered without clear strategic benefit. From the Middle East to the Pacific, world leaders now understand that America’s next chapter will be written by someone who puts American workers, taxpayers, and security interests first.
The era of endless foreign commitments without accountability is ending. In its place, we’re witnessing the return of American leadership that commands respect through strength while delivering tangible results for the citizens who make our nation’s global influence possible.
