Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • Israel-Hamas
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
    • North Korea
  • Research
    • Briefs
    • Explainers
    • Reports
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Ukraine / How to hurt Ukraine the most: keep pushing to find Putin’s red lines
Ukraine, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine‑Russia

December 17, 2024

How to hurt Ukraine the most: keep pushing to find Putin’s red lines

By Daniel Davis

Vladimir Putin on Monday claimed that NATO’s increasing military support for Ukraine risks escalating the conflict, pushing Russia “to the red line” across which, he said, “we can no longer retreat.”

If the intent of Biden’s permission to use American long-range weapons against Russia was to help Ukraine, to their pain, the Ukrainians will likely discover the opposite turns out to be true.

The war is already lost, and nothing NATO or Kyiv can do now will prevent that outcome.

Continuing to send billions in eleventh-hour support to Ukraine, as Biden and others in Europe are doing, will serve only to deplete further our own arsenals of weapons and key ammunition categories (like interceptor missiles), and increase the cost of the eventual loss to the Ukrainians.

Read at 19FortyFive

Author

Photo of Daniel Davis

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

More on Europe

In the mediaUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Analysis: Putin in negotiations with U.S. presidents over the years

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

May 27, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Russia, Ukraine

It’s time for America to walk away completely from Ukraine–Russia

By Anthony Constantini

May 16, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Ukraine War: Why Demanding Putin’s Unconditional Ceasefire is a Mistake

By Daniel Davis

May 12, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Accepting ‘Ugly Terms’: Is This the Only Path to End the Ukraine War?

By Daniel Davis

May 5, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Is Trump’s Peace Plan for Ukraine All That Bad?

By Daniel DePetris

May 2, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Trump’s Ukraine minerals agreement is a terrible deal for the US

By Daniel DePetris

May 1, 2025

Events on Ukraine

See All Events
virtualUkraine‑Russia, Air power, Diplomacy, Drones, Europe and Eurasia, Land power, Military analysis, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Ukraine’s critical choice: Pursue peace or fight on

April 16, 2025
virtualUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Trump and Ukraine: Prolonging or ending the war

December 13, 2024
virtualNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Past Virtual Event: A ‘bridge’ to NATO or false hope for Ukraine?

July 12, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved