The US may make one of the most unforgivable mistakes in the history of their foreign policy if they stop military aid to Ukraine in the event of Donald Trump's election victory, writes the Washington Post.
We clearly saw what the suspension of US military aid leads to – Ukraine lost territory and was close to frontline collapse before Congress decided to resume aid again. After Washington's positive decision, Ukraine stabilized the front and inflicted unheard of losses on the Russian occupiers.
According to British intelligence estimates, Russian losses in May - an average of over 1,200 soldiers killed and wounded per day - were the heaviest of the entire war. Overall, estimates of Russian losses range from at least 350,000 killed and wounded (US estimate) to more than 500,000 killed and wounded (UK estimate). That's more soldiers than Russia has lost in all its other wars combined since 1945.
The biggest danger to Ukraine and its army comes from Russian airstrikes. At a NATO summit, the allies announced they would send dozens of new air defense systems to Ukraine, including at least four Patriot batteries. Negotiations are underway with Israel for the delivery of eight batteries “Patriot” from an older generation. In addition, F-16 fighters from the Netherlands and Denmark are to assist the Ukrainians. It would also be helpful if current US President Joe Biden would allow Ukraine's armed forces to use US weapons systems to attack Russian air bases.
Despite Ukraine's improving outlook, Vladimir Putin has made it clear he is not interested in a ceasefire. So far, the Russian dictator has failed to undermine Western support for Kiev, but that could change if Donald Trump wins the US election.
And Trump and his team are making it clear that immediately after taking office they will end the war, but on their own terms. Which means only one thing – Ukraine to give up the lands occupied by the Russian army. This is a scenario that Kiev does not want. And which will turn out to be a huge mistake for American foreign policy with consequences for decades to come.