Estonian Professor: Pentagon and White House are not acting to aid Ukraine using the laws intended for that purpose

In a recent opinion piece, Professor Peeter Espak from Estonian University of Tartu questions why the Biden administration has been reluctant to fully arm Ukraine against the Russian invasion using all available legal means.

Espak notes that Biden could have invoked the Lend-Lease Act "to send Ukraine any weapons so that Ukraine would not have to pay anything back afterward." Yet the administration chose not to use this law or the Excess Defense Articles Act, which allows the sending of surplus weaponry. Instead, Espak states, "The administration decided to aid Ukraine using only one measure, which was requesting earmarked funding from Congress." This approach faced Republican obstruction over unrelated issues.

Espak suggests that Biden's caution may be driven by concerns over global fuel prices and his re-election prospects. However, Espak argues that this "ultra-weak" handling "rather undermines Biden's statesman image" domestically. He cites a retired War College professor who states it is "inexplicable that the Pentagon and White House are not acting to aid Ukraine using the laws intended for that purpose."

In Professors view, there appears to be a 'lack of rational explanation' for Biden's reluctance, even in the context of an election campaign. The shortfall in arming Ukraine, he suggests, may stem from a desire to pursue an armistice with Russia, a move that could be seen as reminiscent of the 1953 Korean War ceasefire.