I’ve seen a lot of insane takes about the Russia-Ukraine war, but one of the worst is people trying to compare Putin to Hitler in some lazy attempt to push a narrative. Look, Putin is absolutely in the wrong for invading Ukraine—there’s no debating that—but acting like he’s on the same level as Hitler just shows a complete lack of historical understanding. Hitler was running a genocidal war machine, trying to exterminate entire groups of people, while Putin’s actions, as terrible as they are, are driven by imperialistic ambitions and power consolidation. That doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous, but these over-the-top comparisons just muddy the conversation. Instead of making everything about World War II references, people should focus on the reality of the situation—how Ukraine is fighting for its sovereignty, how NATO is handling the situation, and what this war means for the future of global politics.