Trump's allies have started pushing back against the notion of "surrendering Ukraine," according to Igor Savchuk.

In the U.S., the idea of "surrendering Ukraine" is being challenged. Trump had hoped that his media allies at Fox News would support peacekeeping ideas. However, he received quite the opposite.

When Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared for an interview with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, he faced tough questions. The host asked directly:

"You recently called Putin a sadist and a dictator. Now you want to hand over Ukraine to him? What’s the logic?"

Hegseth began to falter, discussing "new approaches" and the "need for compromise," but he looked pitiful – it was a public defeat.

And that was just the beginning. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential and respected party figure, spoke on Fox News. And what did he say?

"We cannot allow Putin to win, because after Ukraine, he will go further. This is a direct threat to the U.S."

This was a clear response to anyone suggesting abandoning Kyiv.

Another blow Trump received came from the New York Post – a conservative publication owned by Rupert Murdoch, the same individual who controls Fox News. The front page of the newspaper featured the headline:

"The dictator is Putin, not Zelensky"

This was a blatant rebuttal to Trump supporters attempting to push the narrative that "Kyiv is run by a corrupt dictator."

However, the most painful blow came from the Wall Street Journal. This newspaper is the primary voice of American business circles. It is read by the most influential Republicans and investors, and here’s what they wrote in an editorial:

"Surrendering Ukraine would be a catastrophe for the U.S. If we abandon Kyiv, China will immediately move on Taiwan and America will look weaker than ever."

In other words, all major right-leaning media, including those controlled by Murdoch, openly sent a signal: "Surrendering Ukraine is political suicide."

And this is not just the opinion of individual media outlets – it reflects the sentiments of American society. In the U.S., no one likes Putin. The exceptions are marginal figures, useful idiots, and outright Putinists, who make up a minuscule percentage. Americans may disagree on economic and social issues, or even on Trump himself – but there is one thing that unites both Democrats and Republicans: their favorite politician must not appear weak before the Kremlin. If Trump "negotiates" with Putin in a way that looks like a capitulation by the U.S. to a dictator, his ratings will plummet faster than Trump's towers did during financial crises.

He understands this very well. He remembers what happened to Biden's ratings after the humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The world witnessed chaos in Kabul, scenes of panic, American helicopters evacuating people from rooftops – and this ultimately undermined Biden's image as a strong leader. In America, defeats are not well-received. People may have different views on politics, but no one wants to see the U.S. in the role of a country losing a war to the Kremlin.

Now, Trump faces a dilemma. He cannot simply abandon Ukraine, because that would make him the main culprit of the failure. He cannot force Kyiv to agree to capitulation, as Ukraine has already proven it does not back down. Most importantly, he cannot enter into an open alliance with Putin, because that would be suicide for his ratings.

Thus, his "brilliant peace plan" has turned into a big flop. Instead of a triumphant return as a peacemaker, Trump has found that he is left with only two options: either pressure Putin to concede, or come to terms with the fact that Kyiv is not afraid of him. In any case, he will have to choose between the image of a strong leader and attempts to appease the Kremlin dictator. And if he chooses the latter – Americans will not forgive him for that.