Amid Zelensky visit, distinguish between U.S. and Ukrainian interests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 21, 2022
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington, DC meeting with President Biden and delivering an address to a joint session of Congress. Defense Priorities Senior Fellow and Military Expert Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis issued the following statement in response:

“It is certainly unusual that the head of state of a country at war would travel overseas, but also understandable. Ukraine is in dire need of funds and military equipment and Zelensky is no doubt coming to Washington to lobby for more of both.

“Congress generously funded the Ukrainian resistance and now may add another $45 billion. This addition would total U.S. commitments to Ukraine in the past year to over $100 billion, more than Russia’s entire defense budget for 2023. Perhaps we can start to ask how much is enough and if we can shift more of the burden of protecting Ukraine to allies more proximate to the war.

“The United States has already provided the lion’s share of the financial and military support (including the HIMARS, M777 howitzers, Stingers, and Javelins). Through the first ten months of war, the U.S. has provided over six times more support than the next closest European state (the UK). Instead of expanding that gap to over ten times more than any other European country’s contribution, Washington could insist that Europe step up to its responsibilities.

“It is time for Ukraine’s most proximate—and wealthy—neighbors in Europe to demonstrate with action that they value their continent’s security, not for yet more no-strings-attached funding from Washington.”

Author

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert