President Biden has been pushing for Republicans to support a supplemental aid package of over $60 billion for Ukraine, but Senator Josh Hawley has voted against this package and remains opposed to further funding of the war. He argues that the fundamental question that needs to be answered is how much aid Ukraine actually needs and how much the United States can provide. Despite the belief that this aid package will make a significant impact on the war, the reality is that $60 billion is only a fraction of what is needed to turn the tide in Ukraine’s favor.
One of the key challenges facing Ukraine is the lack of manpower and weapons needed to effectively combat Russia. The United States does not have the capacity to manufacture the amount of weapons Ukraine requires to win the war. For example, Ukraine needs millions of 155-millimeter artillery shells annually, but the US can only produce a fraction of that amount. This lack of firepower is reflected in the artillery advantage Russia currently holds over Ukraine, despite the significant amount of aid poured into the conflict.
The shortage of weapons also extends to other munitions, such as the Patriot missile system, which plays a crucial role in Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks. The US manufactures far fewer Patriot interceptors than Ukraine requires to fend off aerial assaults. This shortage has implications not only for Ukraine’s defense but also for countries like Taiwan, which rely on these weapons for their own security. The delay in delivering promised weapons to Taiwan is partly due to the shortages caused by the war in Ukraine.
In addition to the lack of weapons, Ukraine also faces a manpower crisis, with hundreds of thousands of fighting-age men already having fled the country. The Ukrainian military has resorted to coercing men into service, and women have protested demanding the return of their loved ones after long years of service at the front. The average Ukrainian soldier is roughly 43 years old, and the country needs upward of half a million new recruits to bolster its forces.
Despite the grim reality on the ground in Ukraine, the Biden administration has maintained a stance that they cannot negotiate with President Putin of Russia. Senator Hawley argues for a defensive strategy that would preserve Ukraine’s manpower and provide time for negotiations to commence. However, he emphasizes that acceptance of the fact that President Zelensky’s goals for the war are fantastical is necessary to move towards brokering peace. Ultimately, facing the truth about the limitations of US aid and the need for a realistic strategy is crucial in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
