As Ukraine reaches the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion, a second look at the country is imperative, especially in light of recent developments. As the war turns a page, from its original invasion form to a much longer and drawn-out war of attrition, Ukraine’s plight is not a lack of fighting spirit, but rather the opposite: they are running out of support. Americans are currently split on the issue of how much funding should go to Ukraine, and the faction that states that we are spending too much on Ukraine is growing rapidly. In the US Congress, House Republicans state that if the American border is not secured with federal funding, no funds will get passed on to Ukraine. In addition, although Russia has sustained losses and setbacks through its two-year campaign, it can easily replenish with greater manpower potential and economic situation compared to Ukraine. So, after two years, can Ukraine still succeed in this conflict? In short, there are around three major areas that Ukraine lacks support in.
The first issue Ukraine needs to secure is its inconsistent funding for its war effort. Although, for the most part, the EU’s funding of Ukraine remains strong, especially in the financial realm, the United States’ support has largely diminished. Although seventy-five billion dollars have been spent by the US on the war effort in the last two years, the commitment to helping Ukraine is slowly dwindling. President Joe Biden, one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine, faces an extremely low support for his policies nationwide. In addition, as 2024 brings the presidential election cycle, his chances of the election, along with his policies, face bleak chances in the race.
With the creation of several strong allies, Ukraine would be able to secure victory over Russia. Although it developed strong relations with many Western European countries, due to its cultural similarities to Russia, it was never formally allowed to enter Europe and North America’s military coalition, NATO, after its split from the USSR in 1991. From 1949 on, NATO has provided a deterrent force for the entirety of Europe. If Ukraine were allowed to join the coalition, its admittance would have either stopped Russia from attacking or dramatically changed the outlook of the war, because instead of just fighting Ukraine, it would have to fight a coalition of European and American forces. As Ukraine cannot currently join NATO, they are stuck with a collection of semi-strong allies, for many reasons. Many countries, due to their proximity to Ukraine, have a vested interest in the country’s victory, and a Ukrainian victory shows that further Russian aggression in the region is ill-advised.
Though Ukraine has received varying amounts of military supplies from foreign nations, to succeed in its conflict with Russia, it needs weapons that will allow it to go head-to-head with Russia’s finest. Even though Ukraine has bolstered its defenses with twenty-first-century weapons like drones and advanced missiles, even these weapons have some drawbacks. With drones, although they are small, simple, yet highly effective, much of their tactical doctrine has been based around attacking lower-threat targets, with air defenses not geared towards these machines, and, when in contested situations, they are frequently shot down or jammed. With missiles, although highly useful, they are expensive, and for Ukraine, few and far between. However, systems like the F-16 fighter jets, which are currently scheduled to enter the theatre sometime this year or next, while not war-winning, will significantly impact the air war in Ukraine. Although the original design for the jet just hit the fifty-year mark, with modern electronics, the extremely maneuverable airplane is still as useful as ever. Compared to ground-based air defense systems, fighter aircraft can protect a much larger amount of territory from enemy aircraft and missiles, due to their inherent mobility and speed. In large part, combined with a ground-based early-warning system, these weapons will help to close many of the gaps on the front, left without air cover, and will be able to go toe-to-toe with the best Russia has to offer.
In the end, Ukraine has a solution to winning the war, but it will take significant effort. Although Ukraine has found strong financial support from the US, Ukraine should prioritize multi-nation contingencies, such as NATO and the EU. By allying with nations closer to home, Ukraine’s defense forces will greatly benefit from the mutual defense closer nations will provide, not to mention a future deterrent role it could bring. In addition, by increasingly modernizing its weapons, especially in the air and cyber domains, will it be able to finally challenge Russia on an equal footing, giving it a shot at victory. Yet in any case, as with any situation here on Earth, God will be the final judge on who will come out of the Russo-Ukrainian War victorious.
Works Cited:
Brenan, M. (2023, September 26). Biden’s job approval 42%; higher on Ukraine, race relations. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/510185/biden-job-approval-higher-ukraine-race-relations.aspx#:~:text=Biden’s%20overall%20job%20approval%20is,and%2046%25%20for%20race%20relations.
Cerda, A. (2023, December 8). About half of Republicans now say the U.S. is providing too much aid to Ukraine. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/08/about-half-of-republicans-now-say-the-us-is-providing-too-much-aid-to-ukraine/
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, File)
interesting artical
I REALLY hope God gives Ukraine the victory. They are being attacked unjustly and I’m sure tons of innocent people have been slaughtered. God has perfect justice, and I know he will make a good decision, because he always does.
very interesting article. I’m half Ukrainian, I have family there and Russia is not really holding back, they bombed many places and they bombed a building like only two hundred feet away from my cousins house. Russia is using a lot of old equipment, which does help Ukraine when fighting back, but a lot of deaths have happened on both sides.
This was interesting, you made your points easy to follow, so good job. You repeat many times that if only the West would give Ukraine more funds (as if the West doesn’t have their own issues that need to be taken care of) the War would be easily won. I don’t think that is the case. Russia has reasons for attacking Ukraine, I do not think they will back down so easily. I don’t support everything they have done, and I certainly don’t support what Ukraine has done, to be honest the more I hear from independent journalists who have been in the war-zone the more I am disgusted with how Ukraine has handled the whole thing. If Ukraine’s government cared about it’s people they would organize peace with Russia, not more war. A wise West would want them to do the same and stop the bloodshed.
Another area that Ukraine will need support in is EW (electronic warfare) systems – their drones are often being hacked, their shells tampered with, etc.
Ok. With drones, if they get hacked, el finito. Thats why a lot of the bigger ones (like the TB2s) are tripe or quadruple redundant, or partially autonomous (preplanned routes). Fighter jets and other manned aircraft, however, don’t rely on radio systems, and they are usually quadruple redundant. In addition, you would have to shoot it down or hit it was a crazy amount of energy to knock out its systems, they are pretty reliable. Thats why Ukraine needs to (and they should have 15 years ago) get a Western-supplied/NATO-compatible air force, with good weapons.
Nice work Benjamin! I have a few thoughts and questions related to your article. The first being this, you said that there was a solution for Ukraine winning the war, what do you think that looks like? Also– I think that there is a lot of different thoughts going around about why Ukraine and Russia are fighting in the first place. The American media is making it seem to be that Vladimir Putin one day woke up and decided to attempt to gain back an old part of the USSR. This is simply not true, this is what the Kremlin itself had said its objectives are, that Ukraine would not join NATO (If Ukraine joins NATO it could put Western weapons in Ukraine directly threatening Russia). That Ukraine would acknowledge Crimea as Russian, as it has been historically. Perhaps the largest thing, Russia DOES NOT want control of the Donbas region of Ukraine, it merely wants those in the Donbas region to be able to have the right to democracy itself, to choose whether or not they even want to be part of Ukraine. Only a few years ago the region was in a Civil war with the rest of Ukraine for this right. Anyway all of that being said, I do not think with this background to what is happening in Ukraine the U.S should consider giving them any more government support. The U.S has enough problems of its own, but that’s another conversation. Frankly, if Russia really wanted to conquer Ukraine for its land, it would have by now. Russia seeks to weaken Ukraine to the point that they will except conditions, not surrender but find peace. And if the Ukrainian government truly cared about the lives of its young men and their families then perhaps it would also seek for peace, this is what America should want, not to spend more of the already hurting taxpayers money, but to bring a lasting peace to the region.
Hi Lizzie, wow that is a long comment
If you’d like a little more backstory, read my Aug-Sept. Article.
Also, if you’d like to go a bit more in-depth, I’d love to talk in a study room or something like that. I think that would be the best option. I’m open on Fridays.
Hmm. Good job Bro, I didn’t realize Ukraine was not part of NATO, I guess that really would make a difference for the outcome of the war. So, in your opinion, would you say that U.S. and other NATO aligned countries should give more financial support to Ukraine, or would you say Ukraine should push harder to become a part of NATO thus introducing a whole realm of (war)resources?
1. NATO should give more, but because the US has all the monies, the US obviously gives(rather, lends) a disproportionate amount, compared to NATO. When I speak of NATO, I mean primarily the European members of NATO, the US is a member of NATO, but I’m mostly referencing the European delegates (UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, etc.)
2. Ukraine cannot join NATO right now. The core tenant of NATO is that if any one of the member nations is attacked, it should be treated as an attack on all of the nations, thus whoever went to war with any member of NATO would go to war with all of Europe + the United States. That is why it won’t happen. Ukraine is also a politically sketchy country, mostly due to it’s ethics and regional ties with Russia.
interesting…