To many, the Ukrainian war is a mere black-and-white conflict between the forces of good Ukraine and evil Russia led by the “insane Putin,” but the truth is far more complicated. Now, before I get into this column, I want to make myself perfectly clear, I do not agree with Vladimir Putin’s politics, nor do I have any sympathy towards his invasion of Ukraine. The man is a thug, killer, and brutal despot. I am sure Satan has a special place for him reserved in hell. Yet, at the same time, I understand how the United States has led Russia down the warpath in Ukraine. “We,” being the United States, set into motion a chain of events that resulted in Russia invading Ukraine—a point that I will further explain. For the rest of the column, we’re going back in time. Buckle up.

With America’s victory in the Cold War and complete dominance internationally, the U.S. had an opportunity to not only partner with Russia but to end the old Cold War grudge. The U.S. was combating the Soviet Union in the Cold War, not Russia. For at last, we had defeated the red menace. We could now reformulate our foreign policy away from the Cold War mentality. But instead, we foolishly stuck to the Cold War playbook, but in overdrive—continually antagonizing Russia needlessly because we could. After all, we are America, and “we can do no wrong.” Such a mentality lacks foresight and understanding of the reality of geopolitics. That is the same type of thinking that resulted in the Iraq War, Libyan Intervention, and the Syrian Civil War, all of which were total disasters for American creditability and resolve.

Now, what were the steps which America took that triggered this war? The foremost cause was the expansion of NATO onto Russia’s front porch. Just for some background knowledge, NATO was a Cold War, European and American “defensive” alliance aimed at counting the Soviet Union and the spread of communism. Now it has become an Anti-Russian European and American “defensive” alliance. This expansion was bound to trigger a Russian response eventually. Let us remember that Russia is a country that experienced countless foreign invasions, from the Mongols to the Nazis. The country is one sizeable, icy battlefield. WW2 claimed over 20 million Soviet casualties alone. Knowing the history, it is understandable why Russia may be a little bit paranoid about a military alliance (under the world’s superpower) on its front porch. One may forget this, but the U.S., when placed in similar circumstances, almost started a nuclear war. Of course, I am referring to the Cuban Missile Crisis, when Cuba (on America’s front porch) began hosting Soviet rockets pointed at the U.S. And we almost started WW3 over the fiasco. Might I add, rightfully? This is one of the key reasons why Putin invaded Ukraine. Knowing that Ukraine is joining NATO is a Russian national security threat. The same reality that triggered the Russian Invasion of Georgia in 2007.

Beyond NATO’s expansion on Russia’s front porch, the U.S. has implicitly threatened the very existence of Putin’s regime. Following the 9/11 attack in 2001, the U.S., under the leadership of President George W. Bush, launched the unprovoked Iraq War, toppling Saddam Hussien’s regime. This sent a signal that if the U.S. was willing to topple a dictator and thug such as Hussien, then leaders such as Putin were under threat. The U.S. 21st-century foreign policy of exporting democracy is now threatening the very existence of non-democratic regimes such as Vladimir Putin’s Russia—a foreign policy that is both counter-productive and ahistorical when considering America’s history. The U.S. has supported democratic regimes such as South Vietnam, Francoist Spain, Pinochet’s Argentine, Batista’s Cuba, and, most recently, the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. These regimes have, and continue to serve America’s national strategic interest, despite the brutal atrocities they commit. Therefore, we should not be surprised that Putin, in reaction, seeks to undermine American democracy.

Now knowing the factor that led Putin to invade Ukraine, how should America readjust its foreign policy? Unfortunately, the U.S. cannot just pull out of Ukraine. We have already passed that Rubicon. Instead, we must achieve peace. The U.S. is in the driver’s seat. We can force the Ukrainians into accepting certain terms. We hold the purse strings, the weaponry, and, most importantly, the intelligence resources that have allowed the Ukrainians to fight the Russians. These terms should include the neutralization of Ukraine, making it a buffer state between NATO and Russia. And, if possible, Ukraine should maintain its territorial integrity, but will have to cede Crimea to Russia. Such a proposal would anger the Neo-conservatives in Washington and the talking heads in the mainstream media, but in the interest of the U.S. and even for the people of Ukraine, such a peace, however flawed, is necessary. Putin is not stupid. He understands that Russia is a declining power, and that this peace treaty may be Russia’s last hail Mary before the nation ceases to exist in the coming demographic winter. And if he refuses peace, then we double down.