The Senate passed a $40 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, but with a small group of isolationist Republicans loudly criticizing the spending and the war entering a new and complicated phase, continued bipartisan support is not guaranteed.

Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, warned the Senate Armed Services Committee recently that the next few months may be volatile. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia could take “a more unpredictable and potentially escalatory trajectory,” she said, with the increased likelihood that Russia could threaten to use nuclear weapons.

These are extraordinary costs and serious dangers, and yet there are many questions that President Biden has yet to answer for the American public with regard to the continued involvement of the United States in this conflict.

In March, this board argued that the message from the United States and its allies to Ukrainians and Russians alike must be: No matter how long it takes, Ukraine will be free. Ukraine deserves support against Russia’s unprovoked aggression, and the United States must lead its NATO allies in demonstrating to Vladimir Putin that the Atlantic alliance is willing and able to resist his revanchist ambitions.


That goal cannot shift, but in the end, it is still not in America’s best interest to plunge into an all-out war with Russia, even if a negotiated peace may require Ukraine to make some hard decisions. And the U.S. aims and strategy in this war have become harder to discern, as the parameters of the mission appear to have changed.



Is the United States, for example, trying to help bring an end to this conflict, through a settlement that would allow for a sovereign Ukraine and some kind of relationship between the United States and Russia? Or is the United States now trying to weaken Russia permanently? Has the administration’s goal shifted to destabilizing Vladimir Putin or having him removed? Does the United States intend to hold Mr. Putin accountable as a war criminal? Or is the goal to try to avoid a wider war — and if so, how does crowing about providing U.S. intelligence to kill Russians and sink one of their ships achieve this?


Americans have been galvanized by Ukraine’s suffering, but popular support for a war far from U.S. shores will not continue indefinitely. Inflation is a much bigger issue for American voters than Ukraine, and the disruptions to global food and energy markets are likely to intensify.


The current moment is a messy one in this conflict, which may explain President Biden and his cabinet’s reluctance to put down clear goal posts. All the more reason, then, for Mr. Biden to make the case to American voters, well before November, that support for Ukraine means support for democratic values and the right of countries to defend themselves against aggression — while peace and security remain the ideal outcome in this war.

It is tempting to see Ukraine’s stunning successes against Russia’s aggression as a sign that with sufficient American and European help, Ukraine is close to pushing Russia back to its positions before the invasion. But that is a dangerous assumption.

A decisive military victory for Ukraine over Russia, in which Ukraine regains all the territory Russia has seized since 2014, is not a realistic goal. Though Russia’s planning and fighting have been surprisingly sloppy, Russia remains too strong, and Mr. Putin has invested too much personal prestige in the invasion to back down.

The United States and NATO are already deeply involved, militarily and economically. Unrealistic expectations could draw them ever deeper into a costly, drawn-out war. Russia, however battered and inept, is still capable of inflicting untold destruction on Ukraine and is still a nuclear superpower with an aggrieved, volatile despot who has shown little inclination toward a negotiated settlement. Ukraine and Russia now “appear further apart than at any other point in the nearly three-month-long war,” as The Times reported.


Recent bellicose statements from Washington — President Biden’s assertion that Mr. Putin “cannot remain in power,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s comment that Russia must be “weakened” and the pledge by the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, that the United States would support Ukraine “until victory is won” — may be rousing proclamations of support, but they do not bring negotiations any closer.

In the end, it is the Ukrainians who must make the hard decisions: They are the ones fighting, dying and losing their homes to Russian aggression, and it is they who must decide what an end to the war might look like. If the conflict does lead to real negotiations, it will be Ukrainian leaders who will have to make the painful territorial decisions that any compromise will demand.

The United States and NATO have demonstrated that they will support the Ukrainian fight with ample firepower and other means. And however the fighting ends, the United States and its allies must be prepared to help Ukraine rebuild.

But as the war continues, Mr. Biden should also make clear to President Volodymyr Zelensky and his people that there is a limit to how far the United States and NATO will go to confront Russia, and limits to the arms, money and political support they can muster. It is imperative that the Ukrainian government’s decisions be based on a realistic assessment of its means and how much more destruction Ukraine can sustain.


Confronting this reality may be painful, but it is not appeasement. This is what governments are duty bound to do, not chase after an illusory “win.” Russia will be feeling the pain of isolation and debilitating economic sanctions for years to come, and Mr. Putin will go down in history as a butcher. The challenge now is to shake off the euphoria, stop the taunting and focus on defining and completing the mission. America’s support for Ukraine is a test of its place in the world in the 21st century, and Mr. Biden has an opportunity and an obligation to help define what that will be.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/opinion/america-ukraine-war-support.html

Lmao. Una never see anything

Make una send money to country wey need food oo. this una war don make millions of people dey starve

Saddest thing is the America and west are playing Cold War with Russian with Ukrainian lives….. Ukrainian will be the looser so sad.

Why should they be ready when the are afraid of Russia?

They're going to waste $40bn

It is imperative that the Ukrainian government’s decisions be based on a realistic assessment of its means and how much more destruction Ukraine can sustain.

The United States and NATO have demonstrated that they will support the Ukrainian fight with ample firepower and other means. And however the fighting ends, the United States and its allies must be prepared to help Ukraine rebuild.

But as the war continues, Mr. Biden should also make clear to President Volodymyr Zelensky and his people that there is a limit to how far the United States and NATO will go to confront Russia, and limits to the arms, money and political support they can muster. It is imperative that the Ukrainian government’s decisions be based on a realistic assessment of its means and how much more destruction Ukraine can sustain.

Since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, China has started to reduce its investments in US government bonds. The volume of such investments is already at the minimum since 2010!

Make I eat first
USA senators couldn’t pass a bill of $46B to help small companies and businesses that got effected by COVID19 according them, the government don’t have money but USA have spent over $10B on Ukraine since 2010 and another $40B on the way.

Russian troops have practically cut off the supply of the Ukrainian group in Severodonetsk! - confirmed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the spot

"They blew up one of the bridges where weapons were supplied, this ammunition was intended for Severodonetsk, the second bridge was under heavy shelling," the Ukrainian militant says.

Drenimarcus:
Since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, China has started to reduce its investments in US government bonds. The volume of such investments is already at the minimum since 2010!

China don't want to experience sanctions that will freeze Thier investments.

OBAGADAFFI:
They're going to waste $40bn

It is imperative that the Ukrainian government’s decisions be based on a realistic assessment of its means and how much more destruction Ukraine can sustain.

zelenesky will cash out like that Afghanistan president cash out lol.

Kingsnairaland:
zelenesky will cash out like that Afghanistan president cash out lol.

America will gladly hand him over to Putin if he tries that.

That 40bn is for American Defense industry and contractors

It's just an op-ed.

Pro-Putin luuunatics shouldn't be overly excited by it.

This is not an opinion editorial, this is the NYT editorial, as in the verdict of the newspaper's editorial staff

Opolopoopolonio:
It's just an op-ed.

Pro-Putin luuunatics shouldn't be overly excited by it.

YeyeGbami:
Make una send money to country wey need food oo. this una war don make millions of people dey starve

All thanks to the loonatic that felt it was cool to invade a sovereign country

I feel sorry for Africans. There leaders are already hammering them with hunger plus another impending hunger that is on the way.

The lockdown hunger would be child's play.

atmy1:
This is not an opinion editorial, this is the NYT editorial, as in the verdict of the newspaper's editorial staff

Alright. But it's still their opinion anyways.

Opolopoopolonio:


Alright. But it's still their opinion anyways.

Clearly says opinion in the link and opinion of the editorial board in the screenshot.

As you have rightly said, it's still an opinion piece.

Complicated kill una there
Putin na there fada

Drenimarcus:
Since the beginning of the special operation in Ukraine, China has started to reduce its investments in US government bonds. The volume of such investments is already at the minimum since 2010!

Not only that, China is drastically reducing their foreign reserves with over 2trillion in their reserves
To my clear understanding this article is calling on Mr Biden to come clear with its ambition which Biden and NATO is scared of due to RUSSIA possession of ballistic missile and Nuclear war heads, if not they would have declared a full alliance fledged war on Russia for its aggression, cause together they have more firepower, which might cause a power change in Russia if it’s people and people in government revolt against Putin, so their other option is a proxy and economic war, which isn’t going too well due to the inflation and high energy cost hitting Europe and USA with US not far from slipping into recession , so it’s either they call it a truce or everybody go in full fledged war and leave the rest for the Russia population to revolt against Putin, cause with what the west seems to be doing is dividing Europe more cause they is no way the Ukrainian military force can accomplish this task alone, with intelligence, firepower, manpower and financial might, which most European countries can not compare to Russia

The only thing Russia lacks behind when compared to countries like China and USA is its Economy, it’s Economy is smaller than that of Germany or even Japan

Piece of shit propaganda to give putin false hope.

I'D MUCH RATHER THEY BEG PUTIN 1ST AND SEE WAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS. I PRAY HE 4GIVES THEM

RichMelanin:


Not only that, China is drastically reducing their foreign reserves with over 2trillion in their reserves
To my clear understanding this article is calling on Mr Biden to come clear with its ambition which Biden and NATO is scared of due to RUSSIA possession of ballistic missile and Nuclear war heads, if not they would have declared a full alliance fledged war on Russia for its aggression, cause together they have more firepower, which might cause a power change in Russia if it’s people and people in government revolt against Putin, so their other option is a proxy and economic war, which isn’t going too well due to the inflation and high energy cost hitting Europe and USA with US not far from slipping into recession , so it’s either they call it a truce or everybody go in full fledged war and leave the rest for the Russia population to revolt against Putin, cause with what the west seems to be doing is dividing Europe more cause they is no way the Ukrainian military force can accomplish this task alone, with intelligence, firepower, manpower and financial might, which most European countries can not compare to Russia

The only thing Russia lacks behind when compared to countries like China and USA is its Economy, it’s Economy is smaller than that of Germany or even Japan

Absolutely right, what they lack in economy, they have it abundantly in their military.
Well its doctrine.
Only ally Russia has is it's Military, that's why they don't joke with them.

They've been invaded by the so call west several times, so they don't want that to happen again

Biden is ready… just that average Americans want nothing to do with Ukraine or NATO power tussle….
Well their leaders are the one that build that great country through policy and actions…
Sometimes the leaders action can also affect the livelihood of average citizen.
But Russia is too big for USA….
Both country can’t back down now…
America Dey toast India.
America even promise to punish any African country that align with Russia… no be their fault na as we just useless cause am.

RichMelanin:


Not only that, China is drastically reducing their foreign reserves with over 2trillion in their reserves
To my clear understanding this article is calling on Mr Biden to come clear with its ambition which Biden and NATO is scared of due to RUSSIA possession of ballistic missile and Nuclear war heads, if not they would have declared a full alliance fledged war on Russia for its aggression, cause together they have more firepower, which might cause a power change in Russia if it’s people and people in government revolt against Putin, so their other option is a proxy and economic war, which isn’t going too well due to the inflation and high energy cost hitting Europe and USA with US not far from slipping into recession , so it’s either they call it a truce or everybody go in full fledged war and leave the rest for the Russia population to revolt against Putin, cause with what the west seems to be doing is dividing Europe more cause they is no way the Ukrainian military force can accomplish this task alone, with intelligence, firepower, manpower and financial might, which most European countries can not compare to Russia

The only thing Russia lacks behind when compared to countries like China and USA is its Economy, it’s Economy is smaller than that of Germany or even Japan

One. The US will never put boots on ground. Russia is waiting for them to tho.
Two. Russians will never revolt against the government, i have Russians friends. Right now, Patriotism is at an all time high close to WW2.
Three. Russia is taking it slow to willfully drag EU economies into recession. Inflation is biting the EU, US, UK economies and no signs of slowing down. Russia meanwhile is having a surplus to their budget. Also, China and other countries have been selling off their US bonds.

The $40B approved will yield nothing to the outcome and there will be a truce. Italy is already telling EU/Ukraine to reach a compromise with Russia.

Generations of Ukrainians will never pay off their debts. Wait till they know what is really going on.

Armchair analysts

The Democrats love being nice using other people's money .

panafrican:
The Democrats love being nice using other people's money .

When you know know nothing about politics in the USA but decided to speak anyway.

It was a bipartisan vote both in the house and in the Senate.

RichMelanin:


Not only that, China is drastically reducing their foreign reserves with over 2trillion in their reserves
To my clear understanding this article is calling on Mr Biden to come clear with its ambition which Biden and NATO is scared of due to RUSSIA possession of ballistic missile and Nuclear war heads, if not they would have declared a full alliance fledged war on Russia for its aggression, cause together they have more firepower, which might cause a power change in Russia if it’s people and people in government revolt against Putin, so their other option is a proxy and economic war, which isn’t going too well due to the inflation and high energy cost hitting Europe and USA with US not far from slipping into recession , so it’s either they call it a truce or everybody go in full fledged war and leave the rest for the Russia population to revolt against Putin, cause with what the west seems to be doing is dividing Europe more cause they is no way the Ukrainian military force can accomplish this task alone, with intelligence, firepower, manpower and financial might, which most European countries can not compare to Russia

The only thing Russia lacks behind when compared to countries like China and USA is its Economy, it’s Economy is smaller than that of Germany or even Japan

Russia has more firepower than America and Europe combined together. You are brainwashed. American weapons are junks and don't work. US defense budget is an illusion used to steal billions from poverty stricken Americans like kroger. Less than 5% of the funds is actually used for armament. America has no power, Russia will crush them to pieces and yes Russia has the biggest economy in Europe. Stop reading from bullshiit propaganda. Germany and Japan are vassal states and debt shiitholes

gambojimeta:

Clearly says opinion in the link and opinion of the editorial board in the screenshot.

As you have rightly said, it's still an opinion piece.

Thank you my brother