Lee Hockstader raised several interesting questions in his Feb. 5 op-ed, “Viktor Orban isn’t Ukraine’s real obstacle to rebuilding.” While Mr. Hockstader’s major thrust was aimed at addressing the massive reconstruction effort needed after the war, the more pressing need is for identifying and funding a strategy for Ukraine to “win” the war. It is hard to see how Ukraine can militarily defeat Russia’s forces, especially when fighting without many state-of-the-art military arms. Mr. Hockstader mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Russia on a war footing, devoting one-third of his government’s spending to the war effort. Russia is supported by China and North Korea, and by India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Hungary continues to be an obstacle to fully supporting Ukraine. And, of course, the United States, because of the obstinacy of House Republicans, is also not able to fully support Ukraine in this critical period.
What strategy will help Ukraine prevail on the battlefield, retain its independence, regain Crimea and again control those eastern provinces claimed by Russia? Absent such a strategy and Ukraine prevailing, discussions about financing the country’s reconstruction are premature.
Ukraine greatly surprised Mr. Putin, who foolishly thought that it would fall in days. Mr. Putin overestimated his army’s capabilities and underestimated the strength of President Volodymyr Zelensky and the ability of the United States and its European allies to rally with funding and military resources. However, more needs to be done. Congress needs to provide the wherewithal for President Biden to provide advanced weaponry so Ukraine can defeat Russia’s deployed military while also taking the war to Russia, so that its citizens feel more of the pains of war.
David Garner, Woodbridge
The writer, a retired Marine colonel, was a defense consultant who worked with 19 of NATO’s Partnership for Peace nations, including Ukraine.
