Ukraine Genocide Emergency Alert
By Genocide Watch’s Ukraine Advocacy Task Force
Genocide Watch is issuing an emergency alert regarding statements made by US President Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine. President Trump has falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war with Russia. He called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator and excluded Ukraine from negotiations with Russia to end the war. The Trump administration has proposed that Ukraine should surrender occupied territories to Russia. This is appeasement.
President Trump has repeatedly called Zelensky an illegitimate leader and demanded that Ukraine hold new national elections. In fact, Zelensky is an elected President. Trump ignores the fact that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits new elections during martial law, which has been in effect since February 24, 2022. Millions of Ukrainians have taken refuge in Europe to escape Russian bombing and genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are in daily combat. Elections cannot be held in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. Ukraine's parliament has voted to extend martial law in a democratic process that has widespread popular support.
Trump has lied that Zelensky has a 4 percent approval rating. Recent polls show Zelensky has a 57 percent approval rating with Ukrainians, which is considerably higher than Trump’s current standing with Americans of 47 percent.
President Trump has called for the readmission of Russia into the Group of Seven Nations (G7), claiming it was an error to remove Russia. Russia was expelled when it illegally invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014. The Trump administration has objected to including the phrase “Russian aggression” in a G7 statement about the war. The US opposed a UN Security Council Resolution that reaffirms Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemns the Russian invasion. The US even voted with Russia against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Moscow's invasion.
President Trump has expressed his admiration for President Putin many times. His policy on Russia’s aggression is a startling reversal of decades of bi-partisan US foreign policy opposing aggression. It is a sharp contradiction to his administration’s approach towards other nations committing crimes against humanity, notably Iran and China. Abandoning Ukraine in its defense against Russian genocide is directly contrary to US leadership on human rights.
European NATO states may continue to support Ukraine. But Ukraine is also heavily dependent on US aid. As of January 2025, the US has provided Ukraine with $65.9 billion in military assistance. This includes $27 billion from Department of Defence stockpiles, including weaponry, training support, and medical supplies.
Trump’s appeasement of Putin is a repetition of Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – Santayana.
Russian aggression and genocide will worsen if the US abandons Ukraine.
Russia is engaged in every stage of genocide in Ukraine. Genocide Watch considers the statements made by the Trump administration to be aiding and abetting genocide. They are evidence of Stage 4: Dehumanization, Stage 5: Organization and Stage 6: Polarization. Trump’s rhetoric reflects Russian disinformation.
Genocide Watch recommends:
The US Congress should adopt the bi-partisan H.Res.16 - Recognizing Russian actions in Ukraine as a genocide.
The US Congress should oversee and investigate how Trump’s business interests influence US foreign policy.
Both US parties and NATO should condemn Trump’s false accusation that Ukraine started Russia’s aggression.
Both US parties and NATO should demand that negotiations to end the war must include Ukraine.
Because of Russia’s aggression and genocide, Russia should not be readmitted into the G7.
Canada, as host of the 2025 G7 summit, should lead condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The US should reinstate USAID funding to Ukrainian and Russian media that counter Russian propaganda.
