Russia’s war on Ukraine is not a distant skirmish — it’s a test of whether the Free World still stands for sovereignty, deterrence, and peace through strength. Half-measures only stretch the conflict and raise the final bill — especially in human lives. If we intend to help Ukraine win, not just survive, we must commit to arms that shift the balance decisively.
Start with long-range precision strike. If Russia’s logistics — ammo dumps, air bases, rail junctions — remain safe, the front never starves. ATACMS and GMLRS change Russian behavior by enabling deep strikes. Deliver them fast, with full usage authority, to attack critical infrastructure and force Russia to stretch thin.
Include Europe’s immediate aid. RAND commentators argue that Europe has systems Ukraine truly needs right now: interceptors for air defense (Patriot, AIM-7, AIM-9, AIM-120) and precision strike munitions like ATACMS and GMLRS. They also point out that Europe could quickly convert 2.75″ rockets into short-range air defenses (like the VAMPIRE system) and fund electronic-warfare components for Ukrainian assembly. That’s leverage we shouldn’t ignore.
Surge layered air defense. Patriots (PAC-3 MSE), NASAMS, and IRIS-T form the shield Ukraine urgently needs. Russia has launched thousands of glide bombs, drones, and missiles. Germany’s plans to ship additional Patriot launchers — and secure its own resupply — are welcome. The U.S. must pair deliveries with training, spares, and releases to reload systems quickly.
Exploit counter-drone and electronic warfare. This is a drone war: recon, loitering munitions, and now cheap skimmers targeting air defenses. Ukraine innovated here; Europe can support with funds or subcomponents, fueling assembly on the ground. U.S. aid packages should explicitly include counter-UAS stacks and EW hardware at the battalion level.
Restore armored punch and mobility. Tanks and IFVs remain decisive when breaking fortified lines, exploiting gaps, and seizing terrain. Western main battle tanks and Bradleys help — but only if spare parts, barrels, armor kits, and operator pipelines are funded long-term. This is logistics, not PR.
Sustain firepower with artillery. Artillery kills on a daily basis in Ukraine. Ukraine needs 155mm ammo in industrial quantities and GMLRS for HIMARS. RAND highlights artillery as a weapon Europe should help the U.S. prioritize. Congress and the Pentagon must keep production lines hot — modes, not statements, determine tempo.
Invest in sustainment — training and maintenance. Advanced systems are useless without trained crews, maintenance, and spare parts. Assistance must be “package engineered” for battlefield endurance — not piecemeal. A battery without reloads or a tank without spares is political theater.
Integrate electronic and information dominance. Russian radar nets and jammers are real threats. Layer long-range strike with anti-radiation missiles, fortified comms, and EW. That’s where power hides: invisible, but decisive.
Support with European and NATO financing models. Europe can already pay for U.S. arms via NATO mechanisms. PURL (Priority Ukraine Requirements List) allows allies to fund Patriot and ammunition deliveries when U.S. stockpiles are tapped. Germany, the Netherlands, and others are stepping up. This leaves the U.S. in a logistics role, not a bank.
Don’t fear escalation—the risk lies in inaction. Gatekeeping Ukraine’s ability to strike military targets at range risks emboldening Putin. Deterrence works through consistent pressure — not self-imposed limits. RAND argues bluntly: Europe can deliver air defense interceptors and precision munitions now—why delay?
Match aid to battlefield reality. ISW assessments underline the point: Ukraine must disrupt Russia’s war machine — the rail and logistics lines, the command nodes, the missile factories. That demands the combined weight of long-range strike, robust air defense, drones, EW, and remain-in-place artillery. Anything less yields a frozen conflict that melts back into war.
The path is firm and clear: deliver ATACMS and GMLRS; surge Patriots, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and short-range air defenses; scale counter-UAS and EW; restore armored mobility; saturate Ukraine with artillery; lock in training and maintenance and coordinate European payments through NATO structures. Fund it. Ship it. Train it. The cost of decisive aid now is infinitely cheaper than the cost of a wider war later. This is not charity—it’s strategy.