U.S. Saw an Opportunity While It Pushed to Arm Ukraine | NYTThe White House seized a rare chance to undermine Russia and build up regional allies as it built a coalition to support the Ukrainians. 

AI SUMMARY:

The United States seized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a chance to weaken Russian influence while bolstering its global alliances. Early in the conflict, Ukraine’s outdated Soviet-era weaponry created logistical challenges, prompting the U.S. to establish a vast arms supply pipeline. This effort culminated in the creation of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition now including over 50 nations, many of which previously relied on Russian military support but have since pivoted to NATO-standard equipment.

The coalition, a product of decades of U.S. alliance-building, serves as a modern template for organizing international military aid, with parallels drawn to past operations like the fight against ISIS. The transition of Ukraine’s military to NATO-compatible systems has accelerated, pulling numerous countries further from Russia’s orbit. Yet, with a new administration that questions U.S. support for Ukraine and alliances more broadly, the future of this effort is uncertain. The Pentagon has prepared contingency plans for continued aid, even without direct American leadership, as it works to maintain momentum against Russian aggression and reshape the global military balance.