Recently, I had the opportunity to meet in Kyiv with key leaders of the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the Air Force. For three days, our discussions focused on optimizing the use of air power to protect Ukraine. and expel the forces of the Russian army. The Ukrainian leadership’s security frustration with restrictions on the use of U. S. -supplied weapons was palpable, and rightly so. These restrictions will have to be removed if Ukraine is to have any chance of protecting its territory and freedom. unlike its much tougher and better-equipped invader.
This is not a fair fight and that is why Ukraine wishes it could fight intelligently. Russia surpasses Ukraine in terms of military capability. It has about 17 times as many attack helicopters; more than 10 times more fighter jets; 8 times more artillery pieces; seven times as many tanks and warships; Three times the available workforce. It also has more than 5,800 nuclear weapons, compared to Ukraine’s 0. While capability alone cannot determine good luck, as evidenced by Ukraine’s fortunate defense of Kyiv and repulsion of the initial attack. Russian attack: Numbers matter, especially as the standoff expands. Russia’s strategy is to abuse the patience of the United States and its allies and drain Ukraine of its resources for as long as it takes.
Russia’s nuclear arsenal poses an entirely different challenge. The threat of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin employing such weapons has deterred President Biden from this conflict. This deterred their limited aid donations and limited that assistance in the form of restrictions on how U. S. -supplied weapons can simply Ironically, because those threats are effective, the Biden administration is necessarily rewarding nuclear intimidation and encouraging nuclear proliferation. China, the other nuclear powers and Iran are closely following this development.
The time has come to replace the scenario that deters whom.
Putin has deployed his forces to kill other innocent people without restraint or respect for the laws of foreign armed conflict. It has devastated Ukrainian cities, towns and villages with senseless destruction. The collective crimes against humanity that Putin has committed so far provide every reason for President Biden to lift restrictions on the use of U. S. weapons in opposition to Russian forces directly threatening Ukraine.
In addition, Putin has intensified the confrontation through weapons he acquired from North Korea and Iran against Ukraine. President Biden deserves to step up the fallout, promising to supply Ukraine with longer-range and more rugged weapons, such as the Joint Dead-End Air. -Surface-to-surface missile (JASSM) to equip its F-16s, unless Putin’s military ends its offensive near Kharkiv and stops the supply of weapons through other countries, unless their use is limited to Russia.
No one who knows the principles of the war, or who knows the defeat of U. S. policy in the Korean and Vietnam wars, can logically argue that Ukraine waits for Russian forces to enter or pass through Ukraine before attacking it. These limitations save it from using weapons efectivo. de oppose Russian army forces and provide Russia with a sanctuary from which to operate. The principles of offensive and security require Ukraine to take the initiative and not allow its enemy to gain the upper hand. However, current U. S. policy undermines both.
Biden’s administration has established confrontational regulations that favor the Russians. Consider that those regulations limit the coverage of Russian surface-to-air missiles, ballistic missiles, fighter jets, artillery, armored vehicles, and infantry sites in the security zone of the total of Russia. They can operate at will, unhindered by the risk of U. S. -supplied weapons, allowing the Russians to shoot down Ukrainian aircraft deep in Ukrainian airspace, rally ground forces for an assault, launch missiles and fire artillery while preventing retaliation.
Empowering Ukraine by allowing its forces to use traditional weapons to attack Russian forces as they prepare to attack Ukraine is not provocative enough for Russia to seriously embrace the use of nuclear weapons.
The bans imposed by U. S. policy are analogous to a soccer game in which a team can only execute defensive plays and cross the 50-meter line to enter its opponent’s territory. These are huge limitations, but especially opposed to an opponent with significant “size. “Outsiders can win, but not if regulations oppose them.
Among Ukrainians, the general view is that the United States is more concerned about the possible consequences of a Russian defeat than a Ukrainian victory. Our best friend doesn’t think we’re determined to ensure his survival. The U. S. wants to replace its narrative to show that this is not the case. Policymakers will need to lead this effort, starting by making transparent their preference to see Ukraine win by achieving its goals, and then helping Ukraine’s more sensible leaders expand and execute a crusade plan to achieve those goals.
Ukraine is fighting for its life, with results of enormous strategic importance for Europe, NATO and the United States. Russia invaded the territory without any explanation and its forces committed heinous crimes against innocent people and maliciously destroyed assets without any army. objective.
Without a more open and practical policy regarding the use of U. S. -supplied weapons, such weapons can only prolong this conflict rather than end it. They will have to be used to gain the air superiority that Ukraine desperately desires to protect itself from attack. as well as having the freedom to attack at the times and places of your choosing. This is the number one issue that needs to be resolved if the U. S. wants to help Ukraine liberate its Russian-occupied territory, thereby reducing Putin’s ability to continue his aggression. in Europe and minimize the threat of protracted trench warfare that depletes Ukraine. It is time to lift restrictions on Ukraine and oppose the existing calculus to deter Putin from continuing his aggression.
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