Russian Strategy and Military Operations

Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea forced a recognition, that we're confronting a challenge that many had assumed was resigned to the history books, a strong militarily capable Russia that is hostile to our interests and our values, and seeks to challenge the international order that American leaders of both parties have sought to maintain since the end of World War II. Russia continues to destabilize Ukraine and menace our NATO allies in Europe with aggressive military behavior. For more than a year, an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress, as well as many of the President's top advisors, have warned that failure to offer greater support to Ukraine, especially defensive lethal assistance, would send a message of weakness that would invite the very aggression we seek to avoid. Unfortunately, this is what has happened. In a profound echo of the Cold War, Russia has intervened militarily in Syria on behalf of the murderous regime of Bashar al- Assad. In all of its Soviet and post-Soviet history, Russia never intervened overtly militarily beyond its so-called near abroad.