Trumps questionable support for Putin: Letters to the Editor Feb. 24, 2025

The Issue: President Trump’s support for Vladimir Putin in his strategy to end the war in Ukraine.As someone who voted for President Trump for the third time this past November, I knew we needed to elect someone who would disrupt the status quo on many fronts (“President Trump: This is a dictator,” Feb.21).However, I agree with the front-page headline on his latest attempt at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.While I don’t necessarily support the contention that it is a battle between terms like good or evil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not start this war; Vladimir Putin did.This war and the countless deaths that have followed must end, and Trump is correct, the war never should have started.

But the United States should remain an objective arbiter in bringing this war to a conclusion for all sides to reach an agreement.Salvator GiarrataniBoston, Mass.I don’t think you’re being fair to Trump in admonishing him for demanding Ukraine pay us back for helping thwart the Russian invasion (“Don’s Dishonorable Demand,” Editorial, Feb.19).With our nation’s trillions in debt — partly due to giving away foreign aid and fighting other people’s wars — all Trump is doing is looking out for the American taxpayer.As Trump said: Isn’t this the very least a grateful country can do? Or are we supposed to just blindly finance without repayment every war that breaks out in the world?Eugene DunnMedfordThank you for staying clear-eyed on this war.

When Trump starts parroting false Russian propaganda, we should all be concerned.The last time this happened, Trump sided with Putin and against our intelligence agencies about Russian involvement in the 2016 election.The reason was clear back then — Trump did not want his election win to seem unearned.The question remains: What’s the reason this time?Daniel KuncioManhattanWhy is Trump so scared of Putin? I don’t see the art in this deal.He must be so terrified by something to a point ...