During Tuesday’s presidential debate, former President Donald Trump insisted again that a rapid end to the war in Ukraine is critical for two reasons. First, because vast numbers of people have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Second, because U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense means, as Trump put it last night, that “we’re playing with World War III.”

Trump’s first contention is virtuous. Wanting to end a war to prevent further loss of life is obviously a positive motivation. The problem comes with Trump’s belief that he must end the war to avoid World War III. That’s because the natural extension of this argument is to end the war on terms manifestly favorable to Russian President Vladimir Putin rather than on terms tolerable to both Ukraine and Russia. Why do you think Putin keeps waving his nuclear brinkmanship warning sign? And at least at present, a Russia-favorable peace means Russia’s annihilation of Ukrainian statehood and democracy.