America’s commitment to Ukraine’s 3-year fight against Russian aggression has crumbled with a single phone call between President Donald Trump and dictator Vladimir Putin.

The die was already cast on Wednesday when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stood at the podium in NATO headquarters to effectively pull the plug on Kiev. There would be no taking back Crimea. No pushing Russian forces from the east, and Ukraine’s vision of returning to its pre-2014 borders was, was in his words, an “illusionary goal” that would only bring more suffering.

But the real gut punch came later. Trump jumped on Truth Social to announce he’d just wrapped up talks with Putin without Zelensky, and peace negotiations will start right away.

“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation,” Trump wrote. “Millions of people have died in a war that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost!”

Back in Kyiv, Zelenskyy did what leaders of small nations have done for centuries when great powers decide their fate. He swallowed hard and put on a brave face.

“No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” he posted on X. “Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace. As President Trump said, let’s get it done.”

It’s been nearly three years since anyone sat down to talk peace. Back then, the war was young and the West’s resolve seemed unshakeable. Biden pumped billions into Ukraine’s defense and wouldn’t so much as entertain the notion of negotiating with Putin.

Now the landscape has shifted. Russia’s grip on a fifth of Ukraine hasn’t loosened. If anything, they’re hungry for more. Moscow wants Ukraine neutered, while Kyiv has been fighting for NATO protection, or at least enough muscle to keep Russia from thinking about round two.

By day’s end, European heavyweights such as Britain, Germany, and France were scrambling to stay relevant.

“Ukraine and Europe must be part of any negotiations,” reads a joint statement from seven European countries. “Our shared objectives should be to put Ukraine in a position of strength.”