Fiona Hill says the US looks weak to Putin after 4 years of Trump's 'disastrous presidency' and that it helps explain the Ukraine crisis

• Hill in a New York Times op-ed says Putin views the US as weakened by Trump's presidency.
• She wrote that Russia is trying to use Ukraine as leverage to force the US out of Europe. 
• Resolving the escalating crisis "requires acting, not reacting," Hill said. 

Fiona Hill in a new New York Times op-ed published Monday contended that Russian President Vladimir Putin saw an opportunity to renew aggression toward Ukraine after the US was left weakened by four "disastrous" years under former President Donald Trump. 

Beyond the impact of Trump's presidency, Hill also pointed to the Afghanistan withdrawal to explain why Putin sees an opportunity to challenge the West on Ukraine. President Joe Biden continues to face criticism in Washington and beyond over his handling of the Afghanistan pullout, which coincided with the Taliban regaining control of the country.

"From Russia's perspective, America's domestic travails after four years of Donald Trump's disastrous presidency, as well as the rifts he created with U.S. allies and then America's precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan, signal weakness," wrote Hill, who served as the top Russia advisor on the National Security Council under the Trump administration. 

Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.