As his presidency nears its end, President Joe Biden is urgently reinforcing support for the Kyiv government, including approving the delivery of antipersonnel land mines. This decisive move aims to aid Ukraine in countering advancing Russian forces. However, it has sparked criticism from arms control groups, who argue that the White House’s actions breach the Ottawa Convention, a UN treaty prohibiting the use of antipersonnel mines.
The White House is expected to provide the weapons under the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the president to pull weapons from current stockpiles for emergencies. The package will include land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery system, known as Himars. One official said the formal notification to Congress could come as soon as Monday. The announcement is a dramatic uptick from the size of recent PDA packages, which typically ranged from $125 million to $250 million.
But the White House defended the decision, saying it is needed to blunt Russia’s advancing troops and give Ukraine a fighting chance. It says the Obama administration has consulted with other NATO allies, Ukraine and its Western supporters, to determine what is needed. The administration believes it is necessary to help Ukraine fight the war while continuing efforts through statecraft and other means to deter Russian aggression and bring about a negotiated peace.
The administration’s aides say it is essential to continue the flow of military assistance to provide Ukraine with what it needs to win on the battlefield, protect its citizens and territory, and prepare for a full-scale war next year or to negotiate a peaceful settlement from a position of strength. The administration hopes the new Republican-led Congress will pass legislation to support Ukraine’s defense needs in 2022.
Biden has argued that the United States should do everything short of direct military involvement to promote American values, help Ukraine, and deter Russian escalation. However, he has yet to seek to use all of the tools of statecraft to bring about a peaceful solution, and his actions so far have lacked a strategic vision.
The administration should also take action to stop Israel’s continued assault on the people of Gaza and Lebanon. That would help to restore a moral foundation to Biden’s legacy and show that the United States will not remain silent in the face of Israeli genocide. It may not stop the slaughter of civilians, but it could send a strong message that the United States stands with Ukraine and the Palestinian people. It is the least the Obama administration can do. The time to act is now. The future of Ukraine and the Palestinians is on the line.
