Col Doug Macgregor: Russia is Not Weakened, Trump Must Tell NATO to STOP

The current situation with NATO and its actions towards Russia is being called out as dangerous and nonsensical. There’s a strong argument that the adult in the room, Donald Trump, needs to step in and put a stop to the escalating rhetoric and potential conflict. Making threats without the willingness or ability to back them up is a risky game, especially when dealing with a militarily strong and unified Russia.

Key Takeaways

• Western leaders misunderstand Russia’s restraint as weakness.
• Putin’s statements are deliberate and should be taken seriously.
• Russia’s military is strong and ready for escalation if provoked.
• The slow approach in Ukraine is strategic, aiming to degrade military capacity, not occupy territory.
• Ukraine’s political class is seen as corrupt and collapsing.
• Western publics have been misled about the war’s goals.
• Trump’s peace plan is viewed as a political stunt with "poison pills."
• European leaders are desperate to prolong the conflict to save their credibility.

The Danger of Empty Threats

Making threats is one thing, but eventually, you have to follow through to keep people believing you mean business. The problem is, acting on these threats right now would be a really bad idea. Russia is fully armed, has the backing of its people, and its military is at its strongest. Why would anyone want to do something foolish like that? It seems like the only option left is to rant and rave, hoping to pull off some kind of stunt, like using drones against Russian bombers. Trying to launch strike weapons into areas still controlled by Ukraine is also possible, but it’s a super risky move. It really needs to stop, and that’s where someone like Donald Trump, who talks a big game but often doesn’t follow through, needs to step up and say, "I’m in charge, and this stops now."

Putin’s Clear Warning to Europe

If Trump doesn’t step in, NATO is in a tough spot. What if they act, either defying Trump or without his knowledge? Vladimir Putin has made it clear: "If you start any action with us, we’re going to finish it." He’s directly addressing the possibility of conflict with NATO, but he’s also making a really important distinction between a "special military operation" and a full-blown war. He’s stated that Russia has no plans to fight Europe, but if Europe starts a war, Russia is ready and will finish it quickly. He emphasizes that they use "surgical means" with Ukraine, trying to be careful because it’s not a direct war. But if Europe wants war, Russia is prepared.

Misinterpreting Russia’s Strategy

Many in the West believe Russia has only gained a small amount of territory in Ukraine, thinking they can’t do more. Putin’s statements suggest this is a misunderstanding. Russia isn’t engaging in the kind of loud, bombastic talk that Americans and Europeans are used to. Putin is the leader of Russia, but he’s not a lone ranger. He has an inner circle, a national security council, and a parliament. He doesn’t make statements without consulting everyone, which creates cohesion within the state. He’s simply saying Russia is prepared to fight, and if you want war, Russia will give it to you. People in the West aren’t taking this seriously enough. They’re fed lies daily and fail to grasp that the war was never just about territory. The focus has been on destroying Ukrainian forces, not grabbing land. Russia could move further west if it wanted to, and it’s almost impossible for them to avoid taking control of the banks of the Dnieper River. However, Putin understands that the people in western Ukraine don’t want to be ruled by Russians, and he doesn’t want to rule them either.

The Collapse of Ukraine and Western Deception

The war is a dead end for Ukraine. It’s not Ukraine that’s on life support; it’s the corrupt Ukrainian government structure. They desperately want more money to redistribute within their criminal networks. Meanwhile, people in Western Europe have been lied to from the beginning about Russia’s aims. Things are starting to fall apart in Germany, with nationalist parties gaining strength and calling for renewed relations with Russia. Leaders like Macron and Scholz are on thin ice. They’ve been driving this conflict, but their support is eroding. They need to keep the war going to save their own political credibility. If peace were to arrive, or if Zelensky were to disappear, it would be the end of them.

Trump’s "Peace Plan" and European Desperation

Trump’s "peace plan," brought by his envoys Kushner and Witte, is seen as largely symbolic. They’re trying to secure political credit for Trump, but Russia views it as containing "poison pills" and therefore unworkable. Even attempts to adjust the proposal are aimed at blocking the peace process by making unacceptable demands to Russia. The Russians are open to dealing with reality, but if Europe and Ukraine want to stick to fiction, Russia will keep going on the ground. The peace plan itself is seen as dead on arrival, with Kushner and Witte trying to salvage something for Trump so he can claim a victory. They don’t really disagree with Putin; they just want a "bone" for Trump to show he negotiated peace. The minimal conditions for a peace agreement laid out by Russia have never changed. Meanwhile, European leaders like Scholz, Macron, and Rutte are in a desperate situation. Their approval ratings are low, and they need to create the illusion of a crisis to save themselves from total destruction. Rutte is already laying the groundwork for a narrative of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran forming a menacing bloc, justifying continued confrontation.

The Reality of European Leadership and NATO

Mark Rutte’s comments about a menacing bloc of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are part of building a new narrative to justify continued confrontation. He’s trying to justify the ongoing conflict by portraying Russia as a "monster." However, Putin has explained that Russia is targeting civilian infrastructure to achieve military objectives. The Russians have been precise in their application of military power, doing a good job of minimizing civilian losses, despite Western attempts to harm Russia’s reputation. The question is, who is Rutte to make these pronouncements? He’s from the Netherlands, a small country. Real leaders in the West would tell people like Rutte and Stoltenberg to "shut up and sit down." The United States has no interest in continuing this destructive war. The Germans understand their relationship with Russia counts, and they will likely leave NATO and the EU once this conflict ends. NATO and the EU will become irrelevant. Donald Trump can either manage this situation positively or continue to worry about optics. His optics don’t matter; most Americans don’t even know what NATO is or care about Ukraine. Trump needs to act and put an end to this nonsense.