In war, there is a saying that goes, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” For Ukraine, this preparation cannot be half-hearted, nor can it be shackled by restrictions imposed by its Western allies. The West, particularly the United States, has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid and military support since Russia's invasion. Yet, when it comes to striking the heart of Russia itself, the West has placed ‘handcuffs’ on Ukraine, shackling its ability to deal a decisive blow to Russian aggression. These handcuffs, in the form of weapons use restrictions, need to be removed immediately. The time has come for Ukraine to be allowed to strike deep within Russia, targeting air bases and launch sites far from the border.
Zelenskyy's
request for the ability to strike Russian territory more aggressively is not
about vengeance; it’s about survival. He has asked for long-range capabilities
to deter Russian attacks and force Moscow to consider peace. His plea comes
after deadly Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilians and military personnel,
like the airstrike on a training center that killed more than 50 people. Such
assaults are a grim reminder that the war's brutality will not ease if Ukraine
remains passive. Yet, the Biden administration, along with some other Western
powers, hesitates. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was clear in stating
that long-range strikes may not be the game-changer Ukraine expects. However,
Austin and the Biden administration are missing the point entirely.
The
core of this issue is not whether long-range strikes alone will bring victory
but whether they can shift the war’s balance by forcing Russia to think twice
before launching attacks. Zelenskyy himself said it best: Russian cities and
soldiers need to question whether they want peace or continued loyalty to
Putin’s imperial ambitions. Allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia would
not escalate the war; it would change the calculation for Putin, who thus far
has felt invulnerable to attacks on Russian soil. This would put the Kremlin
under immense pressure and could push Russia toward negotiations—a goal that
sanctions and diplomatic pressure alone have failed to achieve.
Furthermore,
historical precedents suggest that wars are often won when the aggressor's home
front is threatened. During World War II, the Allied bombing of German cities
was not just about military strategy but about breaking the enemy's will to
fight. The same logic applies here. Putin’s regime thrives on projecting
strength. Striking Russian military assets within its borders would be a
powerful symbolic blow, showing that Ukraine is not merely a victim but a
capable force that can hit back.
Yet,
the West, particularly the U.S., seems to fear escalation. The idea of Russian
retaliation looms large in the minds of policymakers, but this fear is
misplaced. Russia has already shown that it will strike wherever and whenever
it can. The Kremlin has launched indiscriminate missile attacks on civilians
and military targets alike, showing little regard for international norms.
Holding back Ukraine, in this case, doesn’t de-escalate the war; it prolongs
it. By keeping Ukraine's hands tied, the West is allowing Russia to continue
its barbaric tactics without fear of significant consequences on its own soil.
As the Ukrainian proverb goes, “When the forest is cut, the chips fly.” The
chips, in this case, are human lives—Ukrainian lives—that are being lost
because of this restraint.
Let’s
not forget the numbers here. Since 2022, over $106 billion in military aid has
been provided to Ukraine by the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, with the U.S.
alone contributing more than $56 billion. These staggering sums have enabled
Ukraine to hold its ground against a much larger foe. But money and weapons
alone won’t win this war. Strategy will. And the strategy must now include the
freedom for Ukraine to target Russian assets beyond its borders.
Lithuania
and Canada have already voiced their support for Ukraine's request, with
Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas stating that many countries are
now in favor of loosening the restrictions. The U.S. and its key allies need to
follow suit, and fast. Time is running out. With a U.S. presidential election
looming, Ukraine’s military support could waver depending on the outcome. And
Ukraine’s battlefield successes, including the capture of 500 square miles of
Russian territory in the Kursk region, show that it has the capability. What it
needs now is permission to fight on its terms.
Some
argue that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia could trigger a larger,
more dangerous conflict. But isn’t this already the case? Russia has shown that
it will not stop until it achieves its imperial ambitions, whether in Ukraine
or beyond. Putin’s focus on taking the city of Pokrovsk shows that he is not
ready to negotiate. The West has long underestimated Russia's willingness to
escalate. By allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia, the West would be
giving Ukraine the tools it needs to not only defend itself but to take the
fight to Russia and force Moscow to the negotiating table.
The
argument that long-range strikes won’t be a “game-changer” is shortsighted at
best and dangerous at worst. It reflects a lack of understanding of how wars
are won. Wars are not won merely by holding ground; they are won by breaking
the enemy’s will to fight. The world must remember that Putin’s malice runs
deep. His regime thrives on domination, and unless the West removes the
handcuffs from Ukraine, it will continue to allow Putin to dictate the terms of
this war.
If
Ukraine is not allowed to fight with everything it has, we might as well hand
Putin the keys to Kyiv. And who knows? Maybe after Kyiv, he’ll want Paris or
Berlin next. After all, once a bear is loose, it rarely stops at just one meal.
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