There is much talk about the crisis of liberalism and much less about a real and profound one, that of conservatism. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are two leaders who have effectively hijacked traditional values and use them for their own interests.
With the failure of the political actions of these two leaders, a part of the world will be left in physical and moral ashes, and someone will have to rebuild it.
Why did Vladimir Putin promote nationalist values, being a creation of communism? It was the only ideology he had at hand after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the only one through which he could attack Western liberal democracies.
Under the guise of "patriotism," he could justify authoritarianism, the nationalist doctrine that he could spread worldwide, just as Stalin did with socialism, to restore Kremlin domination.
When you weigh "love of country" against "individual freedom and human rights," the latter pale in the eyes of authoritarian political leaders who promote nationalism to gain power without offering any guarantees to citizens, neither of freedom, nor of prosperity, nor of peace, nothing.
Trump created the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, referring to the country, a general and abstract concept, not to its citizens, and today, less than 100 days since returning to the White House, it is clear to see that he cares little about the well-being and lives of Americans, promoting his own interests.
Putin, a Role Model for Donald Trump
Initially, in the 2000s, when he came to power, Vladimir Putin presented himself as a liberal leader, open to the world, but he did not last long because his objectives clashed with those of the citizens, discontent with corruption, extreme polarization of the country, and poverty.
He was forced to resort to "nationalism," to invent an enemy, Europe, the West that seeks to destroy Russia's traditional values.
And thus, setting aside financial ties between the Kremlin's intelligence services and Donald Trump, "ideological" ties also emerged.
Vladimir Putin is a role model for the American president, which is why he is trying to hand over Ukraine to the Russian leader because only in this way can Trump's egocentric political vision be fulfilled. He is convinced that he can present himself as a savior if surrounded by ruins.
In such a context, it was difficult to understand why so many Americans, some of them educated, rational, and responsible individuals, supported Donald Trump to return to the White House.
"Some Republicans who did not hesitate to counter Trump's foreign policy ideas during his first term now overwhelmingly support him. This not only shows Trump's ability to impose his will on his party but also the extent to which he marks a potentially generational shift in alliances and global power," according to a comment by journalist Stephen Groves for the Associated Press.
Always Against America
From the first term, it was clear that the connection between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin exceeded the normal diplomatic relationship between two heads of state.
The current American president, in his first term, went through two impeachment processes, both caused by Russia's interferences in the American political system - elections and decision-making.
"The Internet Research Agency (IRA) conducted the first identified Russian interference operations - a social media campaign designed to provoke and amplify political and social discord in the United States... The campaign evolved from a generalized program designed in 2014 and 2015 to undermine the American electoral system to a targeted operation that favored candidate Trump and denigrated candidate Hillary Clinton at the beginning of 2016," as stated in the Mueller Report, published in 2019.
It was not shocking that Trump won the elections, but rather that many leaders in the Republican Party made excuses for him, ultimately surrendering to the president and, indirectly, to Putin.
The IRA operations began to focus on supporting Trump's candidacy at the beginning of 2016, while the Russian Government used a second form of interference: cyber intrusions (hacking) and dissemination of pirated materials harmful to Hillary Clinton's campaign. The Russian intelligence service, known as the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU), conducted and managed these operations
Mueller Report
And such a political collapse occurs while Donald Trump constantly sought to diminish America's prestige, transforming it from the greatest center of global stability into a power in turmoil.
Underground Negotiations
The January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol was an exemplary episode regarding Trump's objectives, as despite losing the elections, he did not acknowledge his defeat, attempting a "coup" with the help of his supporters.
The first thing Trump did upon returning to power was to pardon all those tried and convicted following the January 6 attack, although the amnesty was highly unpopular. According to opinion polls, 80% of Americans opposed such a decision.
There were representatives of the Republicans who publicly supported the idea that, with Trump back in the White House, he would help Ukraine, making a decisive contribution to defeating Russia.
"Under President Trump's leadership, we can reach a peace agreement that ensures Ukraine's sovereignty while bringing stability to the region," said JD Vance, the current Vice President of the United States.
Not even two months have passed, and today it is clearer than ever that all actions of the American president are negotiated through underground channels with Putin. We are witnessing a ballet in which the White House seeks to minimize Zelensky's influence but also weaken Europe.
Brazenly lying, Trump explains to the world that Putin is not an aggressor and that Putin wants peace, which is why he has stopped providing military and informational assistance to Ukraine. In reality, knowingly, The Butcher of the White House significantly weakens Ukraine's defense capabilities so that Putin can strike unhindered, day and night, at cities and critical infrastructures
Traian Băsescu, former President of Romania
Due to surrounding himself with loyalists who do not have access to the secret contacts between Trump and Putin, most likely managed through family members, the movements of the American president often appear illogical or generate effects contrary to those intended.
This was also the case with the meeting at the White House, when the Ukrainian leader was subjected to attacks by Vance and Trump, and following the announcement by the American administration that it would no longer assist Ukraine.
In both situations, the unexpected effects were the strengthening of Volodymyr Zelensky's political influence and the triggering of a European rearmament movement that was not at all to Vladimir Putin's liking.
Europe's Advantage
Because Donald Trump's intentions are clear, it should not surprise anyone that the American president will do everything possible to bring about a capitulation of Ukraine.
An advantage Europeans have is that Trump acts chaotically, without a plan, and even if he had one, he is unable to follow it.
Furthermore, he cannot involve those around him in Russia's machinations directly, only indirectly, through manipulation, because no matter how loyal his Executive staff may be, they are not traitors and have reservations about breaking the law.
Hence, Trump's contradictory statements and decisions, as he maneuvers in various ways to create advantages for Putin both on the frontlines and in potential negotiations.