Alexander Vindman entered the spotlight in 2019. As a US army lieutenant colonel detailed to the national security council, the Ukraine-born officer listened to a 25 July phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president. Vindman thought Trump’s demand, that Zelenskyy find dirt on the Bidens or lose US aid, crossed a line. He formally reported the call. In that moment, he helped trigger the first Trump impeachment.
In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, a move by Vladimir Putin that Trump described as “genius” and “savvy” while calling Nato “dumb”. The swift victory contemplated by the Kremlin and Trump did not come. The war enters its fourth year.
