Ukraine Benefited from Reduced U.S. Support As It Developed New Military Doctrine

In the end, there is no substitute for fighting your own war. Since the failed counteroffensive of 2024, Ukraine and those supporting its struggle against Russia have feared abandonment by the United States. But one could now argue that nothing has been better for Kyiv than Washington’s lack of interest. Ukraine has been paradoxically liberated from fighting the war Washington wanted it to fight — and developed its own genuinely new military doctrine, based on innovation born by constraint. Although it took some painful adjustment, it has been able to keep up its tremendous fight against Russia even with severe manpower constraints and increased war weariness among the Ukrainian public.

Washington’s support simply never matched the realities of this war. In its first years, so much ink was wasted talking about Patriot missiles. Lockheed produces 600 annually. Ukraine burned through 700 of them in just four winter months. And those Patriot Interceptors cost $3 million apiece. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian-made Sting interceptor costs perhaps $2,500 to make. Ukraine produced more than 10,000 such interceptors in March 2026.

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Michael Brendan Dougherty

Michael Brendan Dougherty is a senior writer at National Review Online.

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In the end, there is no substitute for fighting your own war. Since the failed counteroffensive of 2024, Ukraine and those supporting its struggle against Russia have feared abandonment by the United States. But one could now argue that nothing has been better for Kyiv than Washington’s lack of interest. Ukraine has been paradoxically liberated from fighting the war Washington wanted it to fight — and developed its own genuinely new military doctrine, based on innovation born by constraint. Although it took some painful adjustment, it has been able to keep up its tremendous fight against Russia even with severe manpower constraints and increased war weariness among the Ukrainian public.

Washington’s support simply never matched the realities of this war. In its first years, so much ink was wasted talking about Patriot missiles. Lockheed produces 600 annually. Ukraine burned through 700 of them in just four winter months. And those Patriot Interceptors cost $3 million apiece. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian-made Sting interceptor costs perhaps $2,500 to make. Ukraine produced more than 10,000 such interceptors in March 2026.