On this day last year, just before the start of the negotiations in Istanbul, I wrote what to expect from russia and from these talks.

Many people were optimistic, especially those who believed Trump would end the war in 24 hours.

I was not.

Here is exactly what I wrote one year ago. Judge for yourself who was right.

“Ukraine must attend the talks, not because peace is likely, but to prove to Trump that Putin has no intention of ending the war. His ultimatums are unrealistic and unserious. Ukraine’s task is to convince the United States that peace can only be achieved through strength and that russia’s economy must be crushed with powerful new sanctions. The aggressor must be punished, both on the battlefield and on the economic front.”

Even though I was completely right, Trump and his cult followers learned nothing over the past year.

If anything, they became even more blind to the reality of russian aggression against Ukraine.

Although russia bears primary responsibility for its genocidal campaign against Ukraine, responsibility does not end there.

I also blame the silent supporters and enablers of this evil.

Perhaps the most significant among them is Donald Trump.

He promised to “end the war in 24 hours,” and many believed him.

Instead, he gave Putin a blank check.

He invited this war criminal to the United States of America. Now Putin’s portrait hangs in the White House.

It is therefore no surprise that, since Trump’s return, russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have skyrocketed.

Trump’s pro-russian rhetoric, refusal to support Ukraine, and repeated praise of Putin have emboldened the Kremlin to escalate its assault.

The United States halted military aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine is now critically short of air defense systems.

As a result, civilians are dying because they cannot be adequately protected.

U.S. intelligence support was curtailed, weakening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and allowing russian forces to regain territory and advance further.

Instead of standing with Ukraine, Trump handed a lifeline to the russian economy.

By removing restrictions on russian oil, billions of dollars are flowing back into the Kremlin’s war machine.

That means more missiles.

More drones.

More dead Ukrainians.

Trump has become an enabler of russian terrorism.

History will remember this.