Can We Try To Help Ukraine Win?
President Biden’s security deal with President Volodymyr Zelensky, which the two men signed Thursday, shows him once again doing the right thing for Ukraine — but in baby steps that fall far short of any effort to help Kyiv actually win.
The deal is largely symbolic: It won’t do much to help the Ukrainians force Russia to retreat and stand down any time soon.
Its most important feature: a 10-year US commitment to “build and maintain Ukraine’s defense and deterrence capability” — by providing weapons, ammo , intel and training for its forces and working to build Kyiv’s military-production capabilities.
Biden also announced new sanctions on Russia and on third parties that aid its war effort. And the Group of Seven leaders cleared the way for Ukraine to borrow up to $50 billion from frozen Russian funds.
All great: another message to Vladimir Putin that America is backing Ukraine for the long haul. Yet the deal contains no actual, concrete funding or weapons transfers, which would need Congress’ OK. To make a real difference, Biden needs to do more.
For example, he recently relaxed his ban on Ukraine’s forces firing US weapons into Russian territory . . . in one small area of the front, and not far beyond the border. Putin’s missiles and artillery strike from Russia deep into Ukraine every day, but Biden insists that Kyiv treat nearly all enemy territory as a safe space?
The prez can also stop restricting the weapons he sends Ukraine, a limit he observes for fear of upsetting Putin — that is, the guy trying to conquer a free people.
Biden’s baby steps prolong the war, letting Putin feel confident there’ll be no significant challenge from the West — at least under this US president.