A 15 Minute Moment That Sparked a Global Shift

Peace through strength is more than just a slogan. We are now seeing deeds that indicate a fresh alignment of US interests and ideals with Ukraine’s fight for freedom.

Originally published at Kyiv Post on May 18, 2025

Bill Cole · Kyiv Post

It was just 15 minutes in Rome, but it changed everything.

At the funeral of Pope Francis, the weight of the world hung heavy in the air. Faith leaders, heads of state, and grieving citizens gathered in solemn remembrance. And in the midst of it all, out in the open, President Trump and President Zelensky sat down face to face. It was not scripted. It was not symbolic. It was real. A deliberate, visible show of connection at a critical moment – one encouraged by Pastor Mark Burns, who had long called for unity in action. What followed was not just a diplomatic exchange. It was the beginning of a global shift.

Since that moment, good has been gaining ground – quietly at first, then steadily, and now unmistakably.

The new Pope, an American, has stepped forward and called out Russia as an imperialist aggressor. Behind the scenes, he forms, with President Trump, a moral and spiritual front that is reshaping the global conversation on freedom.

This clarity is spreading. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is publicly dismantling the Kremlin’s economic façade. Speaker Mike Johnson presented a downed Iranian Shahed drone to members of Congress – an artifact of war that has since been transported to the Spy Museum as a stark reminder of what Ukraine faces daily and a signal of what is at stake for the free world.

In Washington, the spiritual tide is rising too. The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Azman, is walking the halls of Congress – not to lobby, but to witness. It was Rabbi Azman who inspired Pastor Mark Burns to come to Ukraine and see the truth for himself. And the world must not forget – Rabbi Azman has lost a son to this war. His steps in Washington are not political. They are personal. He is meeting pastors, lawmakers, and policy leaders across the spectrum.

At one point, by chance, Rabbi Azman crossed paths with Steve Witkoff – an unexpected moment between two Jewish figures with very different roles in American life. Evangelical voices in America are speaking out. Ukrainian churches are welcoming American visitors. Jewish and Christian leaders are beginning to harmonize. This is more than geopolitics. It is moral realignment.

Then came last Friday.

The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland stood with President Zelensky in Kyiv. And who did they call – repeatedly? President Trump. This is no longer about symbolism. A global coalition is forming to defeat tyranny and secure peace.

Meanwhile, Putin looks into the mirror and calls for peace talks in Turkey on May 15, with no ceasefire. Zelensky responds without hesitation: we will come, but we want a ceasefire first. Putin is stunned. Then Zelensky goes further: we will still come, even without one. And now, as of 7:30 a.m. on May 14, the Kremlin is bombing Ukrainian cities once again. There is no ceasefire. No confirmation. And now, no response.

The same Putin who called for talks may not even show up, while the US envoys – Steve Witkoff, Gen. Keith Kellogg, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio – land in Istanbul. This is not diplomacy. This is chaos.

Now imagine what it would mean if President Trump showed up. Another open, face-to-face moment with President Zelensky. Perhaps the new Pope could join them. The message to the world would be clear. Faith and freedom are standing firm.

This is what Peace Through Strength looks like.

The Peace Through Strength Institute is proud to help lead this movement. We are building the long-term strategic framework for a true US-Ukraine partnership. It is about more than minerals. It includes a spiritual and moral component – because defeating Putin is not just a military or economic issue. It is a test of our values.

That framework is already taking shape. We are working directly with lawmakers in Congress, aligning humanitarian and defense priorities, and building a coalition that brings together expertise from cyber defense to drone warfare to religious diplomacy. The next era of deterrence will not be built by firepower alone. It will be shaped by conviction, trust, and shared belief.

In every generation, a test comes. This is ours. What began as a 15 minute sit-down must evolve into a permanent alignment – one that frees Ukraine, weakens Russia, and helps isolate China, Iran, and North Korea.

If you are reading this in Kyiv, Washington, or anywhere freedom still matters, know this: the movement is growing. The world is aligning. And Peace Through Strength is just getting started.