Professor Roman Sheremeta

April 20, 2026

At this point, all illusions that Trump’s America would help Ukraine have dissolved. But most people don’t realize how deeply the current administration is steeped in pro-Russian sentiment and activities.

Here’s a quick look at key figures in the Trump administration and their pro-Russia or anti-Ukraine positions:

• Donald Trump (President): Stopped aid to Ukraine and called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator who “has no cards.”
• JD Vance (Vice President): Said the thing he is most proud of is stopping aid to Ukraine.
• Marco Rubio (Secretary of State): Claimed that weapons bought by the EU or Ukraine could be diverted to the Middle East.
• Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence): Spoke strongly against Russia sanctions in 2022 and was a speaker at the 2023 Rage Against the War Machine event filled with Russia lovers and Putin sycophants.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Secretary of Health and Human Services): Has spread bullshit about the 2014 Revolution of Dignity and blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine.
• Pete Hegseth (Secretary of Defense): Has skipped every Ukraine meeting and usually sends Elbridge Colby instead, who has wanted to stop military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
• Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary): Waived oil sanctions against Russia several times.
• Kash Patel (FBI Director): In 2024, received $25,000 from Russian Igor Lopatonok to produce anti-Ukraine and anti-Western propaganda.
• Steve Witkoff (special envoy): Said he admires Vladimir Putin and has developed a “friendship” with the Russian dictator.

The line is clear: this administration keeps siding with narratives that benefit Russia, while treating Ukraine like the problem.

Author: Pekka Kallioniemi, host of Vatnik Soup

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The Root Cause of Russia’s War: Russian Imperialism

What is the “root cause” of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine?

The most common Russian propaganda narratives include: NATO expansion, “security concerns,” “denazification,” or the protection of Russian-speaking populations.

But the real cause is much older, deeper, and far more persistent: Russian imperialism – a system of incentives built over centuries that rewards domination of neighboring states.

Full article is here: https://open.substack.com/pub/economicsofpower/p/the-root-cause-of-russias-war