As a percentage of GDP, more than a dozen Contact Group members now provide more security assistance to Ukraine than the United States. And these investments in Ukraine are delivering returns domestically, boosting our defense industrial base and creating good jobs. Mr Putin’s aggression has also led to the outcome he sought to prevent: NATO is now bigger, stronger and more united than ever before.
As a result, Ukraine has amassed the world’s second-largest army – despite Mr Putin’s reckless de-escalation and irresponsible nuclear strike. Ukraine has fought brilliantly, while China, the world’s second-largest economy, has backed Mr Putin; Since Iran, the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism, has equipped it with missiles and drones; And North Korea, the most notorious nuclear-armed rogue state in the world, has supplied it with ammunition and about 10,000 troops.
Ukraine’s success so far is a major strategic achievement, but its troops still face serious challenges on the battlefield. Russian forces have recently retaken some of the territory that Ukraine liberated earlier in the war, and Mr. Putin’s bombing of Ukraine’s power plants and other critical infrastructure is taking a terrible toll. The Ukrainian people have shown brilliant defiance, but they have paid a heavy price for their freedom.
Still, Ukraine’s weaknesses cannot mask Mr. Putin’s own growing dilemmas.
In recent months, the United States and its partners have been increasing even more military aid to Ukraine to help counter Russia’s power – including hundreds of thousands of artillery pieces, additional missiles for air defense, more armored vehicles. And more air-to-ground weapons are included. Manpower advantage. We have allowed Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles inside Russia’s borders, which helped Ukraine defend itself following North Korea’s intervention in the war. Throughout the conflict, as conditions evolved on the battlefield, and as our stockpile and readiness needs met, we increased aid at a pace that Ukrainian forces could absorb, and provided training to every donor. And added continuity.
But Russia is suffering heavy losses in capturing small parts of the region – suffering an average of 1,500 casualties a day. More than 700,000 people have been killed and injured in Russia since Mr Putin started the war. Now he increasingly faces a painful dilemma: either endure high casualties for minimal gains, perhaps ordering a mobilization that would lead to domestic instability, or force Ukraine to end its war. Have a serious conversation.