Ukraine Under Attack: American Responses to the Crisis

Feb 12

Feb 12 Ukraine Under Attack: American Responses to the Crisis

“Hands off Ukraine!” echoed around the walls of the Russian embassy in Washington, DC this past week as protestors gathered around the building. Similar protests have flared up around the world as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated. Since January, Russia has assembled seventy percent of the troops it would need to carry out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by mid-February. Estimates of casualties from such an attack, which would lead to the capture of Kyiv, are up to 50,000 civilians killed or wounded. As of February 8, satellite images show Russian forces less than thirty miles from the Ukrainian border.

In addition, governments around the world have responded to the crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in their joint statement that they will be “united in their fight against Russian aggression… wherever and however it might occur.” Leaders from the UK, France, and Germany are planning to visit Kyiv and Moscow this week. Canada, too, extended support for Ukraine and sent sixty military personnel, with the promise of increasing this up to 400 men.

In negotiations, Russia demanded that the US bar Ukraine permanently from NATO; Secretary of State Anthony Blinken refused, but proposed a “serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it.” Blinked assured that he and Biden “made clear that there are core principles that we are committed to uphold and defend, including Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of states to choose their own security arrangements and alliances,”. President Joe Biden views NATO’s “open-door policy” as indisputable and consequently it is unlikely that he will violate that. The President hopes to resolve this diplomatically and avoid war but refuses to forgo his principles.

The United States’ initial response was to send the Commander General of the 82nd airborne, Chris Donahue, along with 1700 soldiers to Poland; 300 soldiers to Germany, and 1000 soldiers to Romania. Captain Matt Visser, spokesman for the 18th Airborne Corps, which includes the 82nd division, said: “Our corps’ presence serves to bolster existing US forces in Europe and demonstrates our commitment to our NATO allies and partners.” The US stated that the corps “stand ready to enhance the alliance’s ability to deter and defeat Russian aggression.” Washington also said that it would send 3,000 additional troops to Eastern Europe to defend NATO members.

Historically, Russian-American relations have been mixed. Although tensions were high through the Cold War, former President, Donald Trump fostered a close relationship with President Vladimir Putin and his administration. However, when Biden was elected, he promised to stand up to Russia "in a manner very different from [his] predecessor." Biden was caught unprepared when Russia militarized its border with Ukraine, but he has still addressed it with urgency. Although it is unclear what the specifics will be, Biden is threatening severe economic sanctions if Russia invades. Washington views any concession to Putin’s demands as “surrendering the victory of the Cold War.”

As the tension on the Russian-Ukrainian border increases, one key pressure point will be the diplomatic and military responses of allies on both sides. It is unclear what may come to pass, but it is evident that Ukraine will have to hope for cooperation from Russia and aid from the United States and other allies.