You may think it strange, in view of what I am about to say, but I am actually a fan of Donald Trump, up to a point. He promises to put an end to the climate change nonsense, the intrusion of the almighty state into every aspect of life, the invasion of illegal migrants, the stifling of free speech and the never-ending tax burden. I even agree with him that the US has every right to impose tariffs and quotas, although their effect will not be as rosy as he thinks.

But his policy on Ukraine is wrong on any test and will have disastrous consequences, not only for Ukraine but for the West and all democracies, including Australia. Here are five reasons for rejecting it and for urging the US to drop it.

Firstly, there is the complete and utter inhumanity and immorality of the policy. Ukraine is the innocent victim of an illegal invasion by Russia that has brought terrible civilian casualties. Its enemy is a ruthless dictatorship that has no regard for international law, the lives of innocent people or common decency. Ukraine is also a democracy fighting against the expansion of an imperialist autocracy. In those circumstances the US – and, yes, the whole of the West – should be giving unequivocal support and help to Ukraine. Instead, Trump’s policy of capitulation is simply appeasement and encouragement to Russia to continue with its monstrous invasion. This is utterly and completely immoral and the abandonment of the principles we all thought the United States stood for. Worse still, it brings Putin out of the cold and gives him an air of legitimacy that can only encourage him to wreak more barbarism on the Ukrainian people.

Secondly, it is insulting to Ukraine that it will not be allowed to attend the preliminary talks for the peace conference, the conference itself or to have a say on the final terms of its enforced surrender. Moreover, it will be forced to accept that it will never regain the territory that Russia has conquered and illegally occupied and that it can kiss goodbye to any hope of joining Nato. This is no way to treat an ally.

Thirdly, the policy is an obvious leave pass to Russia to continue its expansion, both in Ukraine and Russia’s other neighbours. We used to be concerned about the expansion of the Soviet Union and the slavery that came with it. But with the new imperialism in Russia, we should be just as concerned about Putin’s obvious designs on more European territory. Supporters of Trump’s policy say there is no evidence that Russia will be encouraged by a capitulation on Ukraine to expand its empire. This is naive in the extreme. It overlooks the fact that Russia has already made inroads into Moldova and Georgia and imposed puppet governments on slices of their territory in Transnistria and South Ossetia. Russia has in effect invaded them and has a military presence in both. Putin has also declared his specific objective to reclaim the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia; it is an article of faith in his grand design to return them to the status of vassal states as they were under the USSR. And isn’t Crimea, given away by Barack Obama’s cowardice, enough evidence that Russia will continue its aggression, spurred on by Trump’s white flag of surrender?

Fourthly, the Trump policy must undermine and weaken Nato, as it is deliberately sidelining Nato from the so-called peace conference and the deal that Trump is about to foist onto Ukraine. The ingenues in Trump’s entourage are probably too young to have had personal experience of how Nato has been the West’s strongest and most successful bulwark against aggression since 1949. But many of us have lived for years under its protection and benefited from it by the stability and security it has brought. And don’t forget, Australia is an enhanced partner of Nato: weaken it and you weaken the entire West and you weaken Australia. It is therefore vital that Nato’s standing be strengthened if it is to continue its vital defensive role.

Fifthly, the policy can only enliven and encourage the autocracies and dictatorships. When the Chinese are pondering how to take Taiwan, they will naturally think that if a clear case of invasion and unrelenting assaults on civilians can succeed in Ukraine and is met with nothing but appeasement from the strongest democracy, why should they not try the same thing on Taiwan? I can just see Trump cosying up to China, presiding over another conference from which Taiwan will be excluded and announcing that he has secured a great deal for peace because China will take only half of the island.

Then, Trump seems to believe that the destruction of Ukraine, the devastation of its cities, the human rights abuses, and the deliberate bombing of civilians can all just be noted so that we can move on, with no punishment for Russia. This is a complete abrogation of the ideals we have always believed the US stood for. I am beginning to wonder if it any longer stands for them. Trump claims that the US has carried the burden in Europe and got nothing in return. Sure, the Europeans have had the miliary protection that Nato and the US have given them. Sure, they must spend more on defence. But the US has also benefited from its close relationship with Europe which is now being put at risk. It has a platform in Europe and from that has come trade, cultural enrichment and influence throughout Europe and the wider world.

There is therefore only one responsible policy for Ukraine. The US should declare its unequivocal support for Ukraine, guarantee its borders, continue its military assistance and warn Russia that it must withdraw from all parts of the country. Not to pursue these objectives can only weaken the West, strengthen Putin’s hand and signal that the US is now in the business of appeasing tyrants.