Long-range missiles are important. The training in the English countryside or on the muddy Grafenwöhr manoeuvre grounds, the super-accurate artillery shells, the surface-to-air missiles, the winter weather gear, and the intelligence from the eyes in space and the ears on aeroplanes that circle outside the battle zone all play a role.
The visit of President Joe Biden to Ukraine is important on par with any of these.
Before him, other heads of state received well-deserved credit. But when the president of the United States—who is in fact the head of the Free World—arrives, it’s a completely different story. His words had weight. He vowed to uphold “Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity” with “unwavering and unflagging commitment.” And perhaps more significantly, the US will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”
Symbols are important, such as Kennedy or Reagan standing next to the Berlin Wall, Churchill smoking a cigar and wearing a bowler, or even Zelensky growling, “I need ammunition, not a ride.” Biden took a calculated risk by travelling to Kyiv, which was a clever move.
The visit of President Joe Biden to Ukraine is important on par with any of these.
Before him, other heads of state received well-deserved credit. But when the president of the United States—who is in fact the head of the Free World—arrives, it’s a completely different story. His words had weight. He vowed to uphold “Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity” with “unwavering and unflagging commitment.” And perhaps more significantly, the US will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”
Symbols are important, such as Kennedy or Reagan standing next to the Berlin Wall, Churchill smoking a cigar and wearing a bowler, or even Zelensky growling, “I need ammunition, not a ride.” Biden took a calculated risk by travelling to Kyiv, which was a clever move.