“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” — Winston Churchill

As the world watches with bated breath, US President Donald Trump gears up for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, an encounter that echoes with eerie resonance the fateful meeting between British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler in 1938. The backdrop is stark: a brutal invasion of Ukraine by Putin, whose actions have drawn international condemnation and legal consequences as a war criminal. Yet here we find Trump, pitted against the wisdom of history, engaging with a man whose ambitions threaten global stability, in an attempt that appears more about personal gain than true diplomacy.

Chamberlain returned from Munich, brandishing a piece of paper that he claimed would bring peace to Europe, having allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. His heartfelt desire for peace blinded him to the implications of that concession—an act of appeasement that only emboldened the aggressor. Trump, with his own agenda cloaked under the guise of diplomacy, seems poised to repeat this tragic misjudgment, flirting with the idea of recognizing Putin’s claims on the Donbas region and undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty.

While the war drags on, with innocent lives upended and nations knit together in support of Ukraine, Trump’s approach risks abandoning the very principles that the West professes to uphold. His misguided peace overture could very well set a troubling precedent—wherein strongmen are rewarded for aggression while the victims of their brutality are pressured to compromise on their sovereignty. Ukraine, rightly indignant and steadfast in its resistance, stands firm against any territorial concessions, but Trump’s flirtation with appeasement threatens to turn the tide.

The chilling implications of this potential meeting cannot be overstated. If Trump withdraws military and economic support for Ukraine—using his platform to pressure European allies into a reluctant acquiescence—he will not only embolden Putin but perpetuate a cycle of violence and instability. Europe, already grappling with its own security concerns, would find itself in an awkward position, straddling the line between supporting Ukraine and appeasing an emerging American strongman. The echoes of past betrayals linger; the very essence of democracy is at stake.

There is a cynical undertone to Trump’s motivations as well. A  president seeking a Nobel Peace Prize, a badge of honor perhaps meant to validate his controversial tenure, would be seeking legitimacy by negotiating on the backs of the Ukrainians. For a leader who once proclaimed his support for Ukraine, these moves signal a troubling departure from that commitment. Rather than standing tall beside a beleaguered ally fighting for its existence, Trump risks becoming a tool in Putin’s hand, potentially inflicting further damage on the already fragile fabric of Eastern European security.

The meeting in Alaska has the potential to mirror the tragic missteps of the past. Let us not turn this moment into the 21st century’s Sudetenland. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to aggressive actions masquerading as diplomacy. If history teaches us anything, it is a lesson of vigilance against the predators who cloak their ambitions under a veneer of cordiality. The strongmen who thrive on fear and division—Trump and Putin—do not represent the future we ought to aspire to.

Instead of paving a path to misguided peace through appeasement, we must urge for clarity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to support Ukraine in its pursuit of sovereignty. The only true path to peace is one that acknowledges and condemns aggression, rather than validating it. As we watch unfolding events in Alaska, we must remain staunch in our support for those who stand against tyranny and uphold the values that unite us all in the face of adversity. Anything less is an abdication of our responsibility to remain vigilant against the forces that would undo hard-won freedoms.

David M. Crane is the Founding Chief Prosecutor for the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone. He is also the founder of the Global Accountability Network.