How Western weapons transformed the war in Ukraine

[dexter]

And how the US influences which weapons they get, and which ones they don't.

When Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, the US was hesitant to send more than supplies to the Ukrainian army. But when Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, the US changed its tune. President Joe Biden quickly began approving huge packages of weapons to help Ukraine stymie the Russian attack. And for the first couple of weeks, it worked. The Ukrainian army used weapons from the US and its Western allies to stop Russia from capturing Kiev.

As the war progressed, so did US help. It sent heavy artillery in the spring, and then agreed to eventually send tanks in winter 2023. But each time, it deliberated over whether Ukraine can effectively use the weapons, and whether they'll provoke Russia to escalate the conflict.

So far, that hasn’t happened, and the US and its allies are now considering sending Ukraine very advanced long-range missiles and F-16 fighter jets. Both would be game-changers for Ukraine.

Sources and further reading:
Stimson Center- www.stimson.org/2022/u-s-security-assistance-to-ukraine-breaks-all-precedents/&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1679600857055035&usg=AOvVaw0BoV2nDHscvxIPa3G1yqoK
CSIS - https://www.csis.org/analysis/united-...
Politico - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01...
The Economist - https://www.economist.com/europe/2023...

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

The US doesn't want to watch the news one day and see some F-16 suicide crash into the Kremlin sparking WW3.

So the Ukrainians aren't going to be getting any serious firepower.

 

[khansaheeb]

That's a poor excuse detrimental to the Ukrainians. So you want them to suffer slowly and surely to fight the Russians but not to gain victory.

 

[rambro]

Perpetual conflict is the goal

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

That's a poor excuse detrimental to the Ukrainians. So you want them to suffer slowly and surely to fight the Russians but not to gain victory.

You expect us to hand them some B2 Stealth Bombers and an aircraft carrier too?

There's only so much you can hand over.

 

[INS_Vikrant]

NATO will fight Russia till the last Ukrainian

 

[khansaheeb]

You expect us to hand them some B2 Stealth Bombers and an aircraft carrier too?

There's only so much you can hand over.

If US is seriously interested in outcome rather than fueling a fire then yes.