Aspects of US military aid during Ukraine's war for independence (2014–2024)

Abstract

Various aspects of US military aid to the Armed Forces during the ten-year period of Ukraine's War of Independence (2014–2024) are analyzed. The dynamics of military aid provision and the stages of its deployment during the presidencies of Barack Obama, Donald Trump's first term, and Joe Biden are examined. It is noted that only during Trump's first presidential term Ukraine received advanced weapons – Javelin anti-tank portable systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, etc. With the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration provided significant military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which helped to deter the Russian aggressor. However, the Biden administration's policy of managing escalation risks prevented the timely adoption of decisions on the supply of weapons and military equipment that would have played a decisive role in shifting the initiative in the course of hostilities to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The cautious approach to the supply of military equipment and weapons chosen by the Biden administration did not allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to build up to the level necessary to liberate the occupied territories from the aggressor. US military aid was sporadic, required coordination on the types of weapons, and even led to the suspension of supplies due to inter-party strife. The dynamics of US military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces ultimately affected the strategic plans and combat operations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the war fronts. Nevertheless, the military aid from the US allowed the Ukrainian Defense Forces to contain Russian aggression.