"Misconception" that delay in U.S. aid to Ukraine "killed people"

It's a misconception that a temporary delay in U.S. aid to Ukraine resulted in deaths of Ukrainians. That's according to Nolan Peterson, a former U.S. Air Force special operations pilot and a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also worked as a Ukraine-based war correspondent.

In a recent interview with me for the Full Measure After Hours podcast, Peterson told me that he thinks it's important for the U.S. to provide Ukraine with "lethal aid" in order to send a message to Russia. That means U.S. anti-tank missiles known as Javelins. But Peterson says Ukraine actually makes its own Javelin-like missiles and, from a practical standpoint, doesn't really need ours.

They build a lot of weapons...they make their own anti-tank missiles like the Javelin, and a lot of those foreign sales they use to fund the purchase of things that they can’t build at home...To be totally honest, they don’t need our Javelins.

Nolan Peterson, former Ukraine-based war correspondent

Numerous Democrats and reporters have claimed or implied that a temporary delay in additional U.S. aid to Ukraine was responsible for the deaths of Ukrainians fighting in the war against Russia. But Peterson says a delay in U.S. aid would not have impacted Ukraine's fight on the ground.

[O]ne misconception that I’ve heard a lot in the impeachment inquiry is this notion that Ukraine’s war effort against Russia is somehow going to collapse without U.S. military aid, which is far from the truth. Not based on what I’ve seen on the front lines over the last five and a half years.

Nolan Peterson, former Ukraine-based war correspondent

Peterson adds that Ukraine is actually one of the world's larger weapons exporters and does not rely on U.S. aid to defend itself against Russia.

They build a lot of weapons. A lot of big ticket things like armored personnel carriers, tanks, missiles, rockets, they make their own anti-tank missiles like the Javelin, and a lot of those foreign sales they use to fund the purchase of things that they can’t build at home... [M]ost of their ammunition is coming from Soviet era stockpiles. It’s not like we’re sending them bullets and shells, I mean they have their own stuff to fight the war with.

Nolan Peterson, former Ukraine-based war correspondent

Read an excerpt of Peterson's interview with Full Measure After Hours below. And listen to the full podcast by clicking the audio player at the end.

Important Stuff You Didn't Know About Ukraine (PODCAST: Full Measure After Hours)

Excerpt:

Nolan Peterson: They really see their friendship and their relationship with the United States as the most powerful diplomatic tool they have to keep Russia at bay. They think that if Russia believes that the United States has Ukraine’s back, Russia will not outright invade Ukraine…I know that Petro Poroshenko, the former president of Ukraine, who was president for the duration, the beginning of the war, he really wanted the [U.S.-made] Javelin [anti-tank missile].

Sharyl Attkisson: …Which is the lethal aid, what they refer to as "lethal aid"?

Nolan: Correct. They had been pushing the Obama administration to the letter on that and the Obama administration never did.

Sharyl: Because why? They were just worried it would incite Russia…

Nolan: Long story short, they were afraid of escalating the situation with Russia.

Sharyl: And then Trump came in and gave them that aid?

Nolan: Correct. But I think…one misconception that I’ve heard a lot in the impeachment inquiry is this notion that Ukraine’s war effort against Russia is somehow going to collapse without U.S. military aid, which is far from the truth. Not based on what I’ve seen on the front lines over the last five and a half years. Ukraine is the number 12 weapons exporting nation in the world. From 2014 to 2018, for the four years of the war…

Sharyl: So they build a lot of stuff there?

Nolan: They build a lot of weapons. A lot of big ticket things like armored personnel carriers, tanks, missiles, rockets, they make their own anti-tank missiles like the Javelin, and a lot of those foreign sales they use to fund the purchase of things that they can’t build at home.

Sharyl: Why do they need our Javelins if they make that?

Nolan: To be totally honest, they don’t need our Javelins..

Sharyl: They just wanted the commitment…?

Nolan: …they need the diplomatic show of force by the United States. So I think an important point is that if U.S. military aid ends, Ukraine’s war effort would not collapse. U.S. military aid certainly helps Ukrainians on the front line for things like night vision goggles, counter battery radars, thermal imaging, those things are really useful to the Ukrainians, but, for example, most of their ammunition is coming from Soviet era stockpiles. It’s not like we’re sending them bullets and shells, I mean they have their own stuff to fight the war with. But that [U.S.] aid, most importantly, sends a message, like I mentioned to Russia that the United States won’t tolerate Russia escalating this conflict any further. And so I do worry that by even temporarily withholding the aid, you’re sending a bad message to Russia.

Listen to the entire podcast, "Important stuff you didn't know about Ukraine," by clicking the arrow on the player below.

For more original reporting, subscribe to my two podcasts on iTunes, Spotify or your favorite distributor: "Full Measure After Hours" and "The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast." Follow us on Twitter @FullMeasureAH @SharylPodcast!