The Wall Street Journal Is Right: The Biden Admin Should Declassify Its Ukrainian Aid Strategy

The Wall Street Journal published a critical editorial about the Biden Administration's handling of the Ukraine conflict, stating that the administration has reneged on its promise to provide a clear strategy for the aid provided to Ukraine. The editorial board argued that Republicans in Congress are right to insist that the administration articulate a larger theory of how Ukraine can use the assistance to regain momentum and take more territory back from Russia. The administration has classified a strategy document that Congress made a condition of aid, leading to concerns that the US does not have a clear strategy for the conflict. The US initially expected that sanctions would force Russia to withdraw, but Russia has proven to be economically resilient and has continued to militarily restrain itself in pursuit of political goals. The conflict has turned into a "war of attrition" that has not gone according to plan, with Russia producing three times as many shells as the West at a lower cost. Despite this, Russia has not made significant on-the-ground progress, but is finally bearing fruit from the "war of attrition" with increased gains in Donbass. The Biden Administration was supposed to submit a strategy for the conflict within 45 days, but it was late and completely classified, leaving the public unaware of the goals being pursued. The lack of clear goals and the US's improvisational approach to the conflict could turn the public against the proxy war. The military-industrial complex and those who invest in it, including public officials, profit from the ongoing conflict, but the public may be disappointed to learn that their leaders never had a plan for winning. The Biden Administration should declassify its Ukrainian aid strategy to prepare the public for a potential political solution to the conflict.