Budgeting for the human-made disaster of war: US aid to Ukraine

Abstract

IMPACT This article examines the USA’s efforts to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. The USA’s ex ante mitigation efforts were insufficient to prevent the invasion but likely enabled Ukraine to survive the initial attack. Preparation efforts produced large amounts of weapons stocks that could be sent to Ukraine once the war began. Ex post response efforts provided Ukraine with the means to continue defending itself, although the sustainability of such efforts is questionable. The authors’ findings indicate that more effective deterrence measures, such as a defence pact, may have discouraged the invasion, while building weapons stocks during times of peace are essential given that dollars cannot be converted quickly into the means of war.