The only thing worse than our president, Donald Trump, is the Democratic Party. I voted for Trump. However, after his disgraceful actions in Alaska last week I am embarrassed and ashamed. Donald Trump could have made himself the hero of the free world if he had met Putin with handcuffs and turned him over.

Instead, he not only allowed Putin into our country but he honors him with a red carpet on his arrival. Just when we would think it can’t get any worse, it does. Now, he tells Ukraine, a free and sovereign nation, that it can never join NATO, all but guaranteeing future Russian aggression.

Putin and, sadly, Russia must be punished — not rewarded. Putin is, as the majority of the free world has come to accept, guilty of multiple crimes against humanity. First the invasion, followed by the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, bombing the civilian population, using North Korean troops to support his invasion. The world and Russia would be far better off without Putin.

Finally, sanctions don’t work. Arm Ukraine to the teeth and help the Russian people remove this war criminal.

Leo Mazerall
Stockton Springs