Thanks to the American Lend-Lease, time is now on Ukraine's side in its defense against Russian aggression.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the idea that that she could actually lose was considered an exaggeration. It seemed that Vladimir Putin had a powerful modernized army based on a defense budget ten times the size of Ukraine's.
Ukraine's victory in the first stage of Russian aggression seemed a miracle. However, even after that, there were doubts about the long-term prospects, – writes the New York Times. Prior to the invasion, Russia's economy was eight times larger than Ukraine's. Despite all the damage the sanctions have done to Russian industry, the devastation in Ukraine is likely to have widened the gap. So one would expect Russia to eventually win the battle for depletion with more resources. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
No one can say for sure whether Putin understands how the war is really going. His frightened officials do not want to tell him the truth? But all of Russia's aggressive threats against the West and self-destructive tantrums, such as the disconnection of Poland and Bulgaria from gas supplies, show that someone in Moscow is still worried that time is not on Russia's side. US officials have begun to speak optimistically not only about the fact that the Russian aggressor will be detained, but also about a clear victory for Ukraine. How is this possible?
“The answer is that America, although not directly involved in the fighting, is again doing what it did before Pearl Harbor. “With the support of our allies, we have become an 'arsenal of democracy', giving the defenders of freedom all the material means to continue the struggle,” the article reads.
In 1940, Great Britain, and Ukraine in 2022, unexpectedly won against an enemy that seemed invincible. The Royal Air Force repulsed the Luftwaffe's attempt to gain control of the skies needed for a successful offensive. However, in the late 1940s, Britain found itself in a difficult position. The country's defense efforts required massive imports of everything from military equipment to basic items such as food and oil. And the money ran out.
Read also: What is a lease and how it should help Ukraine defeat Russia
President Franklin Roosevelt responded by proposing a land lease law. This allowed the transfer of large quantities of weapons and food to the depleted British. This assistance was not enough to change the course of the war. But Prime Minister Winston Churchill has the resources to survive. And this laid the foundation for the further victory of the Allies.
And so the lease was revived again. Large-scale military aid is now flowing into Ukraine. And not just from the United States, but from many American allies. Thanks to this help, the arithmetic of exhaustion actually works against Putin. Russia's economy may be bigger than Ukraine's. But it is small compared to the American economy, not to mention the collective West. And because of its limited economic base, Russia does not seem to be able to make up for the losses on the battlefield.
“For example, Western experts are convinced that the war against Ukraine has already cost Russia tanks that would take two years to produce. Instead, the Ukrainian army is arming itself better and better, getting more and more heavy weapons every day. Assuming that Congress approves President Biden's request for an additional $ 33 billion in aid, and we can afford that amount, then general Western support for Ukraine will soon be close to Russia's annual military budget. In other words, time is on Ukraine's side, “the article reads. . Two things need to be clarified here.
First, if Ukraine really wins, it will be a triumph for the freedom forces around the world. Future aggressors and war criminals will stop. Enemies of democracy in the West, many of whom are members of Putin's “fan club”, will learn a real lesson about cheap macho poses and real power.
Read also: Russia's war against Ukraine could drag on for years – Stoltenberg
Secondly, if this victory materializes, of course, the main merit in this will be Ukraine. However, it would not be possible without the bold and effective leadership of some (though not all) Western countries. No matter what is said about Boris Johnson, Britain is behaving very well in this war. Poland and other Eastern European countries mobilized, rejecting Russian threats. And President Joe Biden has done a great job of keeping the Western alliance together while providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs.
Previous US presidents have made exciting speeches about freedom. “Break down this wall,” Ronald Reagan urged. “I'm a Berliner,” said John F. Kennedy. But Biden has done more for freedom, and not just in words, than any US president since Harry Truman. I wonder if he will get the recognition he deserves for this.
See the special topic: > According to him, the authorities took the most valuable things from the museums of the region to other regions of Ukraine in March. The Economist: How rotten is Russia's army? The failure of the war against Ukraine destroys Moscow's last argument as to why it should be considered a global player, but even so Putin remains very dangerous. How agrarian business works in wartime What has been done and what still needs to be done to keep it afloat Russian helicopter fires unguided missiles at Sumy region No casualties. An intensified curfew will be imposed in Odessa It will apply only to the city.
