{"id":45216,"date":"2022-01-21T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/21\/biden-must-act-now-to-better-arm-ukraine-heres-what-that-should-look-like\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:53:08","slug":"biden-must-act-now-to-better-arm-ukraine-heres-what-that-should-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2022\/01\/21\/biden-must-act-now-to-better-arm-ukraine-heres-what-that-should-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden must act now to better arm Ukraine. Here\u2019s what that should look like."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to add troops on Ukraine\u2019s borders in preparation for a potential large-scale military operation<\/a>, the Biden administration is reportedly weighing whether to provide additional defensive weapons to Ukraine<\/a>. This should not be a difficult decision for the White House. The administration should be moving heaven and earth to urgently provide Ukraine \u2014 a beleaguered democracy pleading for American help \u2014 with the weapons and other support it needs to deter a Russian offensive by increasing the costs of aggression for the Kremlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoping to prevent a Russian offensive, U.S. President Joe Biden has tried offering Moscow<\/a> a diplomatic offramp while warning<\/a> that a renewed Russian invasion would trigger harsh Western sanctions, a strengthened force posture on NATO\u2019s eastern flank and a dramatic increase in U.S. defense assistance to Ukraine. That assistance could include support for a potential Ukrainian insurgency<\/a> against Russian occupation forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, these warnings alone may well fail to deter Putin. Moscow has gone to considerable lengths<\/a> to reduce the Russian economy\u2019s vulnerability to sanctions<\/a>. Putin likely expects that Western countries will forgo their toughest sanctions options if push comes to shove, fearing blowback on their own economies, and Moscow will surely seek to play on divisions within the trans-Atlantic alliance to weaken the Western response. Putin may also bet<\/a> that Biden\u2019s expressed desire to focus on other issues, such as China<\/a> and the climate<\/a>, will eventually impel the administration to seek an accommodation with Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow may further calculate<\/a> that it can accomplish its political aims without a prolonged and costly occupation, instead using standoff strikes and a limited ground operation to force Kyiv to accept Russian suzerainty, and that similar military options would be more costly in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Putin may conclude that the long-term strategic benefits outweigh the costs and risks and that the time is ripe for action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some may ask why Americans should care. To be clear, a large-scale Russian offensive would spell disaster not only for Ukraine and Europe but for U.S. interests and credibility as well. It could be the largest military action in Europe since World War II, potentially killing thousands of Ukrainians, destabilizing Europe by sending millions<\/a> more flooding westward, and harming the global economy as energy prices surge and markets react to a war in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\t