If Trump and his Republican colleagues truly believed in the American ideals of self-determination, national sovereignty, and peace in Eastern Europe, then they would confront Putin with the same energy they directed at Zelenskyy.
President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance listen at the Oval Office, White House.
By Joshua Peters
North Carolina has long upheld the principle of “First in Freedom,” a motto that speaks to our deep-rooted belief in self-determination, sovereignty, and standing firm in the face of oppression. It stems from the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775, which allegedly declared independence from Britain over a year before the national Declaration, and the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776, making North Carolina the first colony to authorize its delegates to vote for independence. As a state that played a pioneering role in America’s fight for independence, we recognize the value of supporting those who seek to defend their own sovereignty. Ukraine’s battle against Russian aggression is one such fight, and recent developments have cast a troubling light on how U.S. leadership is handling this critical issue.
The contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have brought these issues to the forefront. Rather than treating Zelenskyy—who leads a nation fighting for its survival—with the dignity and respect befitting an ally, Trump and Vance confronted him in an openly hostile and dismissive manner. Their behavior was not just unbecoming of American leadership—it was a blatant display of disrespect to a nation resisting tyranny.
What is particularly disheartening is the clear double standard in their approach to global diplomacy. Neither Trump nor Vance has ever dared to publicly challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin with the same aggressive tone they used against Zelenskyy. Instead of holding the leader responsible for the war accountable, they chose to berate the victim of aggression—a move that reeks of cowardice.
If Trump and Vance truly believed in the principle of peace through strength, they would have directed their energy toward confronting Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. They would have used their platform to demand accountability from Moscow rather than attempting to intimidate and pressure Ukraine into a peace deal that serves Putin’s interests. Their reluctance to face Putin while taking a confrontational stance against Zelenskyy signals a dangerous weakness in American leadership.
This is not just a matter of diplomatic decorum—it is about the fundamental integrity of American foreign policy. If our leaders lack the courage to challenge an adversary like Russia while openly bullying an ally like Ukraine, then what message does that send to the world? Moreover, what does it say about our own commitments to the principles of self-determination and national sovereignty? Am I to believe Trump and his Republican colleagues only place value on principles and decency when it is convenient?
North Carolina’s history teaches us that freedom is never granted out of convenience; it is fought for with conviction. Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected, and any peace negotiations must happen on Ukraine’s terms—not because U.S. leaders pressured them to concede in order to appease Moscow. If Ukraine chooses peace, it must be because it is the right decision for its people, not because American politicians failed the test of leadership and bent to Russia’s will.
The disgraceful behavior of Trump and Vance in the Oval Office should be condemned for projecting weakness masquerading as strong-arm diplomacy. If they truly believed in the American ideals of self-determination and national sovereignty, they would have confronted Putin with the same energy they directed at Zelenskyy. Instead, they showed cowardice in the face of a dictator and arrogance in the presence of a man trying to push back against a tyrant and defend the sovereignty of his country. Zelenskyy has a 63% approval rating among Ukrainians, according to the latest surveys.
We, as North Carolinians and as Americans, must ensure that our nation’s policies reflect the principles that made us first in freedom. This means standing firm in support of sovereignty, rejecting diplomatic hypocrisy, and expecting our leaders to uphold the values of courage and integrity—especially on the world stage.
