It’s hard to ignore what’s happening in Ukraine.

What’s more frightening: what would happen if Donald Trump were still president?

“This is genius,” Trump said, recently. “Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent… I said, ‘How smart is that?’

“And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s strongest peace force… We could use that on our southern border.”

American tanks at our southern border. . . as “a peace force”?

“That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right.”

Meanwhile, the US and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, are struggling to calibrate the right plan to squeeze Russia’s leader into submission.

Remember how Trump privately told aides that he was thinking about pulling out of NATO?

Now he claims credit for keeping the alliance together.

“I hope everyone is able to remember that it was me, as President of the United States, that got delinquent NATO members to start paying their dues, which amounted to hundreds of billions of dollars. There would be no NATO if I didn’t act strongly and swiftly.”

And his relationship with Putin?

“Here’s a guy who’s very savvy… I know him very well. Very, very well.”

Think about this:

Putin’s way of dealing with political foes is to assassinate them.

Trump’s way of dealing with anyone he considers an enemy is to assassinate their careers.

From FBI director James Comey to climate scientists, anyone, everyone who stands in his way is on his hit list. Ellen Knight, a National Security Council staff member, was removed from her position when she refused to falsely state that former national security advisor John Bolton’s book contained classified information.

And these are just a handful of examples of Trump’s “critical thinking” skills.

“The House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol said in a court filing late Wednesday that it had evidence that former President Trump and his allies engaged in a ‘criminal conspiracy’ by trying to block Congress from certifying the election,” CBS News reports.

“Wednesday’s filing was in response to a lawsuit brought by right-wing attorney John Eastman, who advised Trump in his final weeks in office. Eastman has refused to provide documents to the committee and invoked attorney-client privilege, saying he was Trump’s lawyer.

“The filing also describes how Eastman advised Trump to ‘press an unconstitutional plan’ and sought to persuade Vice President Pence and his advisers to go along with the effort. And the committee revealed how, as the January 6 attack at the Capitol was underway, Eastman and Pence’s lawyer traded blame over the violence. In one email, Pence’s lawyer Greg Jacob wrote, ‘thanks to your bull***t we are now under siege.’

“Eastman responded, ‘The “siege” is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so that the American people can see for themselves what happened.’”

The January 6 committee wants Eastman to testify.

Eastman claims attorney-client privilege.

And what of Republican members of Congress doing? With the exception of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger . . . nothing.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is literally fighting for its life.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky top aide, writes in an opinion piece, “Despite the constant barrage of Russian fire, we stand firm and united in our resolve to defeat the invaders. We will fight to the last breath to protect our country.

“But make no mistake: Other autocrats are watching, taking lessons.”

And the autocrat in Mar-a-largo watches a lot of TV.

We are fighting to sustain democracy in a country where a vocal minority, and extreme-right group of Americans continue to dictate their right to be angry and hate others who are different than them: different tribes; different values… whatever difference they perceive as a threat to themselves.

The potential for another civil war may be on the horizon. Don’t think it’s possible? Before January 6, I didn’t think it possible, either.

Take a close look at the picture of Ukraine’s government building being destroyed by a Russian missile.

I am NOT advocating military action against any extremist group. I am advocating rational citizenship in supporting potential leaders who represent truth, not lies, place responsibility before personal aggrandizement, and act to return the country’s stature as the example of democracy the world once respected.

If we don’t stand up and fight like the Ukrainians—a non-violent fight by citizens speaking out and voting those out of office who support domestic tyrants—could we endure a scene of destruction like that taking place in Ukraine?