America’s ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, did what too many in Washington won’t: he spoke plainly and demanded an end to the slaughter in Ukraine, telling Vladimir Putin that “the killing needs to stop” and pushing for a real peace process instead of endless battlefield bloodletting. Whitaker made those remarks on Newsmax’s Newsline as part of a larger push by the administration to move from perpetual war to a negotiated settlement that protects American interests and European security.
Whitaker’s bluntness matters because he is no lightweight; he was confirmed by the Senate as the U.S. ambassador to NATO earlier this year and now sits at the table where real leverage is being exercised. His role is to hold our allies accountable while making clear that America will pursue an outcome that ends the war rather than outsourcing our judgment to career diplomats who prefer never-ending conflict.
Let’s be clear about what the administration is doing: President Trump has pressed for real pressure on Moscow and for allies to accept responsibility, not just write checks. Whitaker and other officials have said the U.S. is using diplomatic leverage, sanctions, and the threat of coordinated consequences to push Russia to the negotiating table — a strategy meant to end the fighting without letting Putin walk away with unchecked gains.
That diplomatic pressure isn’t idle rhetoric; it’s backed by concrete tools. Whitaker warned that tougher secondary sanctions will target countries doing business with Russia and choke off the funding that fuels the Kremlin’s war machine, while NATO allies are being pushed to bolster deterrence so diplomacy isn’t done from a position of weakness. Those are the hard-nosed measures real conservatives want: defend America and our friends while forcing bad actors to pay a price.
Too many anchors and pundits on the left act like America must apologize for pressing for peace on terms that defend liberty and borders. Whitaker rightly reminded audiences that strengthening NATO and demanding fair burden-sharing from allies — including higher defense spending commitments — is what finally brought Putin to the table and created a chance for lasting peace. It’s proof that strength, not moralizing lectures, achieves results.
Patriots should take heart: we have a diplomat who speaks plainly, a president willing to use America’s leverage, and a plan that puts peace through strength at the center. Critics who prefer perpetual conflict will howl, but taxpayers and troops deserve an end to the killing and a durable settlement that safeguards Western civilization. Support for tough diplomacy and firm defense is not weakness — it is the surest path to peace, prosperity, and security for our children.
