The Necessity of U.S. Aid: The Russian-Ukrainian War

Authors

• Lelin Spriggs, Southern Methodist UniversityFollow

Abstract

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the conflict has emerged as a defining foreign-policy challenge of the twenty-first century. In the United States, the war dominates political discourse and continues to shape debates on national security and the appropriate scope of American global leadership. Although President Trump vowed during his campaign to end the war upon entering office, hostilities intensified following his inauguration, prompting renewed policy debates regarding the future and extent of U.S. military and economic support for Kyiv.

This paper argues that the United States must continue providing sustained military and economic aid to Ukraine, as renewed American commitment remains vital not only for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty but also reaffirming U.S. global reliability, reinforcing transatlantic unity, and containing authoritarian expansion. The first section applies Ikenberry and Huntington’s theories of hegemonic responsibility to Ukraine’s historical trajectory, demonstrating the United States’ distinctive obligation to protect a vulnerable, developing democracy. Building on this theoretical foundation, the paper then evaluates the strategic and democratic implications of continued U.S. aid. Taken together, this two-part analysis emphasizes the broader ramifications the Ukrainian war poses for the future of American leadership and the preservation of the liberal international order.

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Recommended Citation

Spriggs, Lelin (2026) "The Necessity of U.S. Aid: The Russian-Ukrainian War," The Dialogue: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholar.smu.edu/thedialogue/vol11/iss1/5