By Matt Underwood Ukraine’s remarkable resilience in the face of Russian aggression has made it a potent force, a fact that renders any notion of “selling out” Ukraine utterly absurd. The sheer scale of Ukraine’s drone production, numbering in the millions annually, is a testament to its burgeoning military-industrial capacity. These drones, largely responsible for a significant percentage of battlefield kills inflicted on Russia, highlight a level of technological prowess and manufacturing capability that shouldn’t be underestimated.
This advanced drone program, coupled with the Ukrainian military’s unparalleled combat experience – arguably the most seasoned fighting force in the world today – makes the idea of abandoning Ukraine strategically disastrous. The sheer level of expertise gained by Ukrainian forces in this conflict represents a significant asset, not a liability, and relinquishing access to this knowledge would be a grave mistake for any potential ally.
The United States, in particular, missed an opportunity to withdraw support long ago. The continuous flow of weaponry since 2014 has deeply entrenched the US in the conflict, creating a reality where unilateral withdrawal is practically impossible. Even were the US to attempt this, the European Union would be compelled to step in, ensuring at the very least a prolonged stalemate. The implications of turning Ukraine into an adversary are far too dangerous; a well-armed, strategically positioned nation with a vast diaspora throughout the West is far too risky a proposition to contemplate.
Ukraine’s ability to repel a larger, more conventionally armed adversary should serve as a potent indicator of its military capabilities. While Ukraine’s strength is undeniably relative to Russia’s, abandoning it would be a profound blunder. A forced “bad peace deal” would almost certainly result in the ousting of President Zelenskyy, replaced by a far more hardline leader who would solidify defenses on the eastern front before potentially turning their attention westward, presenting significant problems for the West.
The staggering losses sustained by Russia – almost one million soldiers – highlight the unsustainable nature of its current war effort. Given the support Ukraine has received to date, it’s naive to believe Russia can absorb further losses of this magnitude. Any suggestion that Ukraine is somehow expendable ignores the potent reality of its capabilities and the severe geopolitical ramifications of its downfall.
Furthermore, the idea that Ukraine is solely reliant on US support ignores the existing bilateral agreements between Ukraine and numerous European countries concerning training and armaments. This demonstrates a network of support that extends far beyond the US, underscoring Ukraine’s inherent strength and resilience, even without significant US involvement. The argument that abandoning Ukraine would be a simple transactional matter, potentially swayed by financial incentives, underestimates the geopolitical implications and the depth of the alliances already in place.
The fear of a Trump-style abandonment is rooted not only in potential transactional politics but also in a broader apprehension of US reliability as an ally. Recent threats to withdraw security assistance from NATO members who fail to align with specific US positions only exacerbate these concerns. This undermines the very foundation of international alliances and raises profound questions about the future of collective defense.
In reality, Europe has the means and the will to support Ukraine, and the existing network of military-industrial relationships is already adapting and developing beyond mere reliance on the United States. The idea that abandoning Ukraine would simply leave Europe vulnerable underestimates their capability to defend themselves and their capacity to adapt to any changes in the global landscape. The potential for a wider militarization of Europe, though not without risks, is arguably a necessary response to the realities of the current geopolitical situation. Ultimately, Ukraine’s inherent strength, its proven ability to withstand a major invasion, and the complex network of alliances surrounding it all make the idea of selling out Ukraine a nonsensical and potentially catastrophic proposition.