The Fear of a Dying Wolf

How America’s Cowardice Enables a Fading Russia’s Imperial Delusions

The West’s Fear and Russia’s Last Gasp

Russia is not a rising power. It is a decaying empire in the throes of its last violent spasms. Vladimir Putin’s regime does not represent the future; it clings to a past that is already dead. Russia’s population is shrinking, its economy is stagnant, its military—once feared—is now exposed as brittle and incompetent. It has only one real weapon left: fear. Nuclear threats. Gas blackmail. The hollow specter of its old superpower status. And yet, the United States—the wealthiest, most advanced, and most militarily powerful nation in human history—treats Russia like an untouchable titan. America, supposedly the leader of the free world, cowers before a dying wolf.

This is not just about the war in Ukraine—it is about a broader failure of courage in American leadership. The United States made a promise to Ukraine when it convinced them to give up their nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum, vowing that if Russia ever came knocking, America would stand in defense. That promise has been broken. Instead of true leadership, Washington has chosen hesitation, self-deterrence, and moral cowardice, paralyzed by the phantom of Russian strength.

The reality is this: Russia is not the Soviet Union. Its economy is smaller than Italy’s. It has no technological edge. Its army has been humiliated by a nation one-third its size. It cannot even fully control the regions it claims to have annexed. Yet, the Biden administration and much of NATO still treat Russia like an immortal juggernaut, afraid to take the decisive steps that would ensure Ukraine’s victory. The United States is a young superpower—brash, strong, still growing. Russia is a dying old man, lashing out because it knows its time is short. And yet, America—blessed with youth, strength, and near-limitless resources—is the one acting afraid.

If the United States does not confront this fear of a fading empire, then not only will Ukraine suffer, but the entire global order will unravel. The West must stop acting like it is managing Russia’s decline and start acting like it is ensuring that Russia’s aggression fails completely. If we let a dying wolf dictate the future, the future will belong to fear.

Russia’s War: A Desperate Lunge for a Dead Empire

Vladimir Putin is not a mastermind playing 4D chess—he is a gambler playing with the last of his chips. His war on Ukraine is not a war of strength; it is a war of imperial nostalgia. He has openly lamented the fall of the Soviet Union, calling it the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” But Putin’s Russia is not the USSR. It lacks the Soviet Union’s industrial base, global ideological pull, and vast population.

This war was supposed to be a swift conquest, a lightning campaign that would topple Ukraine’s government in days. Instead, Russia’s invasion has been one of the most humiliating military disasters of the modern age. Russian troops, once feared, have been routed, slaughtered, and pushed back by a country with a fraction of its GDP.

The Kremlin expected Kyiv to fall within 72 hours. Instead, over three years later, Ukraine still stands, defiant, stronger than ever, armed with Western weapons and the righteous fury of a nation betrayed too many times. Russia has lost hundreds of thousands of troops, spent billions, and seen its global standing plummet. As of January 2025, estimates suggest that Russia has suffered over 700,000 military casualties, while Ukraine has endured approximately 400,000 casualties. Civilian fatalities in Ukraine have tragically surpassed 12,500.

So, why does the West still act as if Russia is some unstoppable force? Why does America still flinch every time Putin rattles his nuclear saber, despite knowing that Russia has as much to lose in a nuclear war as anyone else—if not more? The reason is simple: Russia has mastered the art of fear. And the United States, despite all its power, still allows itself to be bullied by ghosts of the past.

The Cowardice of the West: America’s Betrayal of Ukraine

The most egregious failure of this war is not Russia’s aggression—it is the West’s response. The United States has failed to honor its word, failing to live up to the commitments it made to Ukraine.

When Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s, it did so with the understanding that America and its allies would protect it if Russia ever attacked. This was the Budapest Memorandum, a deal struck in 1994 where Ukraine agreed to surrender its massive nuclear arsenal—the third-largest in the world at the time—in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., U.K., and Russia.

And yet, when Russia invaded in 2014 and again in 2022, those guarantees meant nothing. Ukraine, having given up its best deterrent, was left to fend for itself. The message this sends to the world is devastating: If you are a small country, and you trust the United States to protect you, you are a fool.

North Korea understands this. That is why Kim Jong-un clings to his nuclear weapons like a lifeline. Iran understands this—that is why they continue to push forward with their nuclear program. The lesson of Ukraine is simple: if you give up your nukes, you will be betrayed. America has made itself into an unreliable guardian, a nation that speaks of security guarantees but runs when called upon to deliver them.

Worse still, the United States has spent three years holding Ukraine back, terrified of provoking a nuclear Russia. When Ukraine begged for fighter jets, Washington said no. When Ukraine needed longer-range missiles, Washington delayed. Every step of the way, the Biden administration has second-guessed itself, unwilling to do what is necessary to deliver a Ukrainian victory.

Instead of acting like the global superpower it is, the United States has acted like a weak, frightened teenager, unsure of its own strength.

The Trump Administration’s Misguided Approach: Empowering the Dying Wolf

The inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025 marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump’s administration has adopted a stance that not only undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty but also emboldens Russia’s aggressive ambitions.

Abandoning Ukraine: A Betrayal of Democratic Values

In a stark departure from previous U.S. policy, the Trump administration has distanced itself from Ukraine, a nation valiantly defending its sovereignty against Russian aggression. Trump’s confrontational meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February 2025 exemplifies this shift. The meeting, intended to finalize a minerals deal, devolved into a public dispute, with Trump pressuring Zelenskyy to make concessions to Russia and accusing him of disrespecting U.S. efforts toward peace. This encounter not only strained U.S.-Ukraine relations but also signaled a retreat from supporting a democratic nation under siege. 

Aligning with the Aggressor: A Stain on U.S. Integrity

Perhaps most alarming is the administration’s alignment with Russia on the global stage. At the United Nations, the U.S. opposed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, standing alongside nations like North Korea and Iran. This unprecedented move isolates the U.S. from its European allies and undermines the international community’s efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions. 

Undermining NATO and Western Unity

Trump’s assertion that Ukraine should “forget about” joining NATO, blaming the alliance for the ongoing conflict, further weakens Western unity. This stance not only emboldens Russia but also jeopardizes the security framework that has maintained peace in Europe for decades.

The Path Forward: Reasserting American Strength and Leadership

To counter Russia’s aggression and uphold global stability, the United States must:

1. Reaffirm Commitment to Ukraine: Provide unwavering political, military, and economic support to Ukraine, ensuring it has the resources to defend its sovereignty.

2. Strengthen NATO Alliances: Reinforce commitments to NATO allies, deterring Russian expansionism and reassuring Eastern European nations of their security.

3. Isolate Russia Diplomatically: Lead global efforts to impose stringent sanctions on Russia, targeting its economy and political elite to pressure a withdrawal from Ukraine.

4. Counter Disinformation: Combat Russian propaganda by promoting factual information and supporting independent media in Eastern Europe.

5. Tell Russia to fuck off: No one wants nuclear war, no one can afford it, destroying the world for the past is a stupid idealogy. Putin is not that crazy.

The United States, as a young and powerful nation, must not succumb to the fear tactics of a declining Russia. By standing firm and supporting democratic allies, America can ensure that the dying wolf’s final howls do not destabilize the global order.

The Myth of Russian Invincibility

Let’s be clear: Russia is not a superpower anymore. It is a regional power in terminal decline.

• Its economy is smaller than South Korea’s.

• Its birthrate is collapsing, and its population is shrinking.

• It is a corrupt, hollowed-out kleptocracy run by aging gangsters.

The United States, by contrast, is a global economic and military juggernaut, backed by the most powerful alliance in human history.

By Noel | Fowklaw