May 20, 2025
Ukraine Is Europe’s War. Isn’t It?
A new article from Andrea Kendall-Taylor in The New York Times highlights the stakes of the war in Ukraine for the United States. Despite an apparent belief by the Trump administration that this war only matters to Europe, how it ends has implications for Americans. If the United States fails to stand up to Russia now, in Ukraine, it is likely to have to do so at a significantly higher cost in the future. One of the major implications of the war for the United States include the risk of a broader war in Europe, given Putin’s objectives extend beyond Ukraine – a conflict which would not leave the US unscathed.
Furthermore, a negotiated peace that leaves Ukraine vulnerable and Russia emboldened could increase the global challenges that Washington faces. Freed up from its efforts in Ukraine, Russia would be able to redirect its energies to destabilizing operations elsewhere, and be a more potent partner for China, Iran, and North Korea. The war in Ukraine may be being fought across an ocean, but if the Trump administration chooses not to invest in resisting Russia now, Americans will pay a greater cost down the line.
Read the full article on The New York Times.
More from CNAS
-
Commentary
Defense / Transatlantic Security
Who Should Coordinate Europe’s Defense Buildup?Who will coordinate the surge in defense spending about to get underway?...
By Sara Moller
-
The Axis of Upheaval
Reports
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was a critical catalyst for cooperation among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea—what the authors call the “axis of upheaval....
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Nicholas Lokker
-
Commentary
Transatlantic Security / Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Respect Umpires — on the Field and in the CourtroomCongress shouldn’t let the administration’s contempt slide. None of us should....
By Will Rogers
-
Ukraine War Update with Ben Hodges and Jane Kobzova
Podcast
During the past several weeks, and since around March of this year, Russia has increased the intensity of its attacks on Ukraine. Moscow is launching brutal aerial assaults on...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
