The Unrealistic Ukraine Policy Debate

The Ukraine policy debate in the U.S. seems even more divorced from reality than usual these days.

The Ukraine policy debate in the U.S. seems even more divorced from reality than usual these days. The main point of contention between the Ukrainian government and the Biden administration has been whether the U.S. will agree to let Ukraine use U.S.-made long-range missiles to strike inside Russia, but according to most accounts this military option would yield only limited military benefits. Writing in Foreign Affairs last month, Stephen Biddle considered the benefits of allowing Ukraine to launch these attacks and concluded that “the capability will not transform the military situation on the ground.” The debate in Washington is focused on something that isn’t going to make that much of a difference.

Meanwhile, reports have been pouring in about the deteriorating situation in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian defenses are under severe strain, and Russian forces have been making steady gains in recent weeks. The Kursk gamble backfired, and now Ukrainian forces are paying the price for it.