When political legitimacy becomes contingent on recognition by a superpower, populations lose their right to self-determination and democracy becomes a selective tool.
Trump claims that it was due to America's generosity and protection that other countries benefited and raised their living standards, while the United States itself gained nothing.
The Ukrainian people deserve more than our prayers and the guilty abstentions. The best course of action would be to acknowledge our past mistakes, commit to restoring respect for the rule of law and act to correct the damage.