After reading the blanket coverage on the Russo-Ukrainian war, you may be asking: Will Ukraine win its war against Russia? How many more civilians will die? The answers to these questions are heavily determined by the aid provided by the United States.
According to US State.Gov, since February 24th, 2022, the US has given Ukraine more than 44.4 billion USD in military aid, almost nine times more than the United Kingdom, the second largest supporter. Much of the US aid has been vital in Ukraine’s successes, such as the US-made Patriot air defense system. On May 4th, 2023, the Patriot Missile System intercepted the Russian Kinzhal Missile, which Vladimir Putin claimed to be a “Hypersonic weapon that could overcome all existing air defense systems.” This interception was a massive blow to Russian morale.
The Patriot is just one example of many of how the US is helping Ukraine win the war. The Abrams tank is regarded as one of, if not the best, tanks in the world, and the US has provided 31 to Ukraine. Bloomberg states that: “According to Oryx, which records only losses it can confirm, 2,082 Russian tanks have been destroyed, damaged, abandoned or captured since the start of the war.” These tanks were not only destroyed by Abrams, but by mines, drones, rockets, and Javelin Missiles provided by the US. Javelin Missiles have played a significant role in destroying tanks because they are lightweight, highly maneuverable, and extremely accurate even in lowlight conditions.
On September 19th, the Joint Chief Chairman said, “Ukraine has liberated more than 54 percent of territory seized by Russia” (Military.com). It is hard to imagine this being possible without US donations.
“There is not a soul in Ukraine that does not feel gratitude to you, America,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said to the New York Times. “To you, the people who help us not because you have to but because your heart cannot let you do otherwise.”
There are some Americans that believe the US should not be giving aid to Ukraine and that money should be going towards domestic priorities. However, Americans must remember that the price of our profits are the lives of Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines, fighting so that we will not need to in the years to come.
