Ukraine needs support now
The war in Ukraine is not going well.
Almost two and a half years on, things are looking bleak for the Ukrainians. They are facing the stark realization that its western partners have begun to lose much of the early enthusiasm to provide Kyiv with what it needs to defend itself in a conflict on a scale of which hasn’t been seen in Europe in more than 80 years.
Ukraine’s much anticipated counteroffensive last spring did not go as planned, and much of the equipment provided by the West has either been destroyed or used up in the preceding months, although at the cost of appalling casualties on the side of the Russians.
Ukraine is calling for renewed support at a time where it looks more and more vulnerable, and with an aid package worth almost $90 billion being held up in the U.S. Congress for months, it’s hard to see support being renewed any time soon. But is it too little, too late?
The United States and its allies, including Canada, had offered Ukraine its unwavering support on more than a few occasions.
At the start of the war, Ukraine shocked the world with its determination and resolve to fight and repel the Russians. What many predicted would be a swift invasion turned out to be a costly and protracted war, but one the Ukrainians seemed determined and capable of winning with enough assistance.
That feeling is rapidly turning to despair as a weakened Ukraine deals with a likely Russian counteroffensive this summer and the possibility they may not be able to defend themselves as effectively this time.
It’s also hard to fight a war you don’t believe you can win and the Ukrainians must be having their doubts as support for them seems to be drying up.
So why have western nations once again failed to live up to their promises?
The repercussions of Ukraine losing the war would be significant. Not only would it be devastating for the Ukrainian people, it would leave Europe far more vulnerable and would severely weaken the credibility of the U.S. and its allies. It would also signal to aggressor states like Russia that we no longer have the stomach to fight for freedom and the ideals which we have done for nearly a century.
It may be hard to see, but a failure to stand by our promises in Ukraine matters quite a lot. Our integrity is on the line and our western values are being challenged in this conflict. We must stand by our commitments now more than ever.
Ukraine can still win this war, but the clock is ticking. Without urgent assistance from its allies, it will be hard to succeed, but the cost of providing support now pales in comparison with the cost of a Russian victory in Ukraine.