Fire away
On the Lend-Lease Act, protecting civilians, and the new tools entering Ukraine's arsenal to defend itself
The more than 3,000 ERAM missiles that Ukraine is now set to purchase from the US have a range of up to 280 miles, which may or may not coincidentally be the shortest distance from Ukrainian territory to central Moscow. The Pentagon says "Ukraine will use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway and Foreign Military Financing from the United States for this purchase", which will cost them about $850 million.
■ In a meaningful way, the expense itself is parallel with the bill racked up by the United Kingdom in the early stages of World War II: It looks like a lot on paper, but compared to the alternative it's a pittance. When you're in the middle of a fight for your very existence, you spend what you must.
■ And it's no exaggeration to call it an existential struggle: Russia keeps on attacking civilians directly in a war that it alone bears responsibility for starting and perpetuating. The speed with which Ukraine has transformed itself into a cutting-edge military force is remarkable; they've even developed a home-grown cruise missile.
■ Ukraine never should have had to do any such thing in the first place, but their commitment to self-determination has shown just how much morale and character can determine the course of war. What they deserve now is to be left alone to enjoy peace. With luck, their new weapons will bring that peaceful day significantly closer.
