UKRAINE HAS EXPOSED THE WEAKNESS OF THE UNITED STATES. Ukraine's unexpectedly powerful resistance is preventing the world's leading superpower from controlling the course of events. The following is a direct quotation from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “I don't think this was Putin's plan, so it hasn't gone the way he intended. I think that right now, unfortunately, it's a strategic stalemate, and that's a dangerous thing... At the same time, Ukraine has become more effective in its ability to conduct long-range strikes deep inside Russia. So we share the same concern. The entire world is watching this situation as something that could escalate and potentially develop into a broader conflict.” It turns out that Ukraine is getting in the way of American hegemony. This has been obvious for a long time. Despite supposedly strained relations between Trump and Putin, the United States continues exploring opportunities for economic cooperation with the aggressor. The reported discussions involve Nord Stream 2, Lukoil, and oil production in eastern Russia. But this is not the only thing that angers Trump. The world is increasingly seeing the United States under his administration as a paper tiger. You cannot defeat Iran with words alone. Putin makes little effort to conceal his contempt for the current occupant of the White House, maintaining occasional contact with him largely as a formality. Ukraine, meanwhile, has become an X-ray exposing the true nature of American power. Americans have witnessed that even in the 21st century, there are people willing to die to preserve their nation — a people possessing an extraordinary determination to defend their freedom and independence, with tremendous courage and bravery. Back in 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his position clear: even on the first day of the invasion, Ukraine was not cornered. Russia's economy should be isolated, its military capabilities restricted through sanctions, and Ukraine provided with the technology necessary to defend itself. The problem, in his view, was not a lack of possibilities but a lack of political will. As economist Oleksandr Kirsh argues, the American position presented by the supposedly “pro-Ukrainian” Marco Rubio is remarkably simple: Putin's plans have gone wrong, Ukraine is now striking unexpectedly deep inside Russia, and Washington fears that further escalation could draw NATO into a wider conflict. That concern appears to overshadow discussions of additional sanctions and military assistance. Europe should pay attention. Its security depends increasingly on Ukraine's ability to resist Russian aggression, while the reliability of American leadership is being questioned. NATO remains a powerful alliance, but military strength means little without the political determination to use it when necessary. Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko stated in Brussels that Ukraine would need approximately €69 billion in 2027. According to Le Monde, Kyiv's latest financial request irritated some European diplomats. “It feels as though we are watering a desert,” one reportedly remarked, referring to the continuing need to secure additional funding. Meanwhile, several European countries, including Germany, are demanding substantial reductions in the EU budget. Yet the financial burden of supporting Ukraine remains distributed very unevenly across Europe. According to the figures cited, total assistance to Ukraine during the war, measured against each country's projected annual GDP for 2026 as of April 1, amounts to Germany — 1.1%, Belgium — 0.7%, and France — just 0.4%. Compare that with Norway — 4.8%, Sweden — 2.8%, Denmark — 2.8%, Estonia — 2.8%, Lithuania — 2.1%, and the Netherlands — 1.1%. These figures illustrate the striking differences in national commitments. The original comparison also claims that, except for Estonia and Lithuania, these countries have provided more assistance in absolute terms than France.