It's time for the United States, the generous donor on the global stage, to pause and re-examine its aid strategy for Ukraine. Perhaps, the solution to this crisis should be left more to the Europeans. After all, they were so close to the hostilities that they could feel the trembling of every inch of the land. For too long, however, they seem accustomed to relying on U.S. military might, which is like a never-ending refuge. The role of the United States in this armed conflict is undoubtedly an important investor. However, when Biden** offered another $60 billion in "emergency" aid to Ukrainian taxpayers? Admittedly, the $60 billion is perhaps not astronomical compared to the military aid and civil society support Europe has provided to Ukraine. But we must recognize that every aid is a test of American finances.
There are voices accusing the US Congress of not approving the aid, while European allies should take more responsibility. These voices remind us that the United States is not the only player in this crisis, but one of many forces. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the United States is the largest provider of military aid to Ukraine. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the United States has provided Ukraine with a total of 463$300 million in bilateral military aid, while Germany came in second with $194$200 million. Such figures are enough to show the determination and strength of the United States in supporting Ukraine. Of course, other countries in Europe are also doing their best to help. France, Italy and Spain, although not as economically strong as the United States, are also doing their best to support Ukraine. However, the amount of their aid is still stretched thin compared to the United States. Poland is a commendable example of how it has provided more than $3 billion in military aid to Kyiv, despite the fact that its economy ranks sixth in the European Union.
In this war for aid, we cannot measure the contribution of countries in terms of absolute amounts alone. The total U.S. bilateral defense commitment to Ukraine is 032%, while small countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, despite the limited size of their economies, aid to Ukraine as a percentage of their GDP is high. 15% and 154%。The contribution of these countries is admirable, but we must admit that in order to defeat a power like Russia, it is not enough to rely on the strength of these small countries. The United States has already supplied Kiev with 463Of the $300 million in military aid, Germany provided 194$200 million, while the contributions of other NATO members are insignificant in comparison. The amount of aid in Estonia is 4$500 million, while this figure is significant in the context of its country size, its military effect is insignificant compared to U.S. aid.
We must admit that in absolute terms, the United States has helped Ukraine the most. Without U.S. military assistance, it would have been difficult for Ukrainian forces to withstand a Russian onslaught for two years. And those who believe that Europe is doing more than the United States in supporting civil society and providing humanitarian aid ignore an important element of accounting: every dollar that the United States transfers to Ukraine is free aid, while the $65 billion promised by EU institutions is actually a loan. When we talk about gratuitous financial aid, the contribution of the United States far exceeds that of Europe. However, this does not mean that the United States should bear unlimited responsibility. U.S. interests are global, and the greatest threat comes from the Pacific. Therefore, we cannot expect the United States to invest indefinitely in the armed conflict in Europe. On the contrary, we should encourage European countries to take more responsibility for supporting Ukraine. I had an appointment with the author