Biden must not hesitate in sending ATACMS to Ukraine - they will obliterate Putin for good, says Tobias Ellwood
PA
Technological innovation has always been decisive in winning conflicts. While troop numbers do matter, the wise utility of new technology can be a game changer. It's not so much the invention itself, but how quickly it's manufactured in numbers and harnessed in the theatre of war by trained units and formations.
The longbow at Agincourt, the Gatling gun in the US Civil War, battle tanks, and aircraft in WW1 are all examples. Additionally, the semi-automatic rifle, aircraft carrier, and the nuclear bomb played pivotal roles in WW2.
The spectrum of military hardware now available to both sides in Ukraine is unprecedented. Scholars worldwide will study this war to determine if this represents the future of modern combat. However, such studies might be premature, as a game-changing conventional weapon has yet to be deployed.
The conflict in Ukraine has confounded military strategists. They're puzzled not just by its duration, but also by how modern state-on-state conflict should now be waged. The end of the Cold War gave licence to successive Western governments to reduce defence spending in real terms.
This reduction assumed that conflicts would be short-lived, such as the Gulf War, and resolved through the deployment of superior weapon systems – particularly long-range precision missiles.
'The Ukrainian defence, a mix of shocking Russian tactics and sheer Ukrainian bravery, aided by UK-provided NLAW anti-tank missiles, prevented history from repeating itself'
PA
Having claimed victory in the Cold War, our growing complacency and diminished international resolve have arguably led to an emboldened President Putin. This has allowed him to annex territories like Georgia, Crimea, and Donbas.
With his recent full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin seemed to be echoing the Soviet tactics of 1968. Back then, a significant Warsaw Pact force was enough to quickly subdue Czechoslovakia.
The Ukrainian defence, a mix of shocking Russian tactics and sheer Ukrainian bravery, aided by UK-provided NLAW anti-tank missiles, prevented history from repeating itself. As the war progresses, with a 1000km frontline reminiscent of WW1 trench warfare, the introduction of drones has modernized the nature of conflict.
While once viewed as premium military technology, like the Predator and Reaper drones employed by the United States in its global war on terror, Ukraine has ushered in a change. Affordable commercial drones are not just providing reconnaissance but are also being modified to target armoured units.
Both sides of the battlefield employ this technology, making dominance challenging to achieve.
How long can this stalemate continue? The highly publicized Ukrainian counteroffensive has yet to meet Western expectations. Aware of the potential ramifications of a Trump victory in the upcoming US elections, President Zelensky was in Washington DC last week, seeking further assurances about continuous support.
It's a troubling reflection of current geopolitics when, in the face of battlefield stagnation, international patience wears thin, leading to reduced military backing. It's worth remembering that Ukraine is battling on Europe's behalf. If this conflict isn't resolved, the repercussions could bolster Putin, destabilising Europe's economic and security landscape.
Any truce, ceasefire, or peace agreement will merely provide Russia the opportunity to regroup, rearm, and reignite its ambitions for Slavic Europe.
Over the weekend, Joe Biden is said to have privately agreed to supply Ukraine with ATACMs - powerful long-range, precision strike, tactical ballistic missiles. But he now needs to follow through on his promise. Without hesitation, the US should dispatch them to Ukraine - only with these can Ukrainian forces target critical Russian assets effectively.
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Over the weekend, Joe Biden is said to have privately agreed to supply Ukraine with ATACMs
PA
Staying true to its initial commitment to Ukraine, Britain has already delivered Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Although they possess a greater range than ATACMs, they need to be air-launched – an area where Ukraine lacks resources.
If our support for Ukraine is genuine and if we aim to deny Putin any semblance of victory, then Zelensky must be equipped with the potent weapons he’s been pleading for.
We need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves how committed are we? If we genuinely believe in Ukraine's cause - for the sake of Europe - our military support should be wholehearted.
Anything less prolongs Putin's chance at claiming a hollow victory, allowing him another opportunity to challenge us in the future. ATACMs represent the game-changing weapon that Ukrainians have been seeking. Let’s hesitate no longer.
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