US president's slow-but-steady approach to Ukraine support raises questions
A deep-dive into how US military aid to Ukraine evolved from basic resistance support to advanced weapons systems. The step-by-step process shows both careful planning and hesitation in critical moments
The foreign-affairs newsletter takes a pre-turkey-day break‚ but theres lots to un-pack about US-Ukraine relations and global happenings
In early 2022 Joe Bidenʼs team made ready-to-go plans for Ukraine that included just basic items (like body-bags) thinking Russia would win fast. Things went different than expected – Ukraine showed un-expected strength which made the White House re-think its whole game-plan.
The step-by-step weapons supply became a back-and-forth dance: Ukraine asks for stuff; Washington thinks real hard about it. Take F-16s for example – Ukraine wanted them about 2 years ago but got green-light only last summer. Same story with ATACMS missiles: first short-range okʼd‚ then long-range approved with lots of ifʼs and butʼs
Hereʼs what Trump might put in charge if he wins:
* Howard Lutnick for Commerce
* Pete Hoekstra as Canada ambassador
* Matthew Whitaker heading to NATO
* Pam Bondi for Attorney General
Some hot news-bits from last week: Russia shot new super-fast missile at Dnipro (they told US right before doing it); Japan hosted Five-Eyes spy-friends meeting which is kinda big deal; Biden and Chinaʼs boss agreed AI shouldnt control nukes – which seems like common sense but needed to be said
Next week brings voting time: Romania and Uruguay pick new leaders on 11/24‚ Namibia follows on 11/27 (good luck counting all those votes)
