The recent overnight aerial attacks by Russia on civilian targets across Ukraine starkly reminds us that leading the United States is not a 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. job. Dozens of children, doctors, and nurses were killed or injured in an intentional missile strike on Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. The hospital was struck by a Kh-101 Air Launched Cruise Missile, likely delivered by a Tupolev Tu-95 bomber. This bomber launched from an airfield in Russia beyond the 100 km restriction area imposed by the Biden administration, which prohibits Ukrainian strikes deep into Russian territory.
The scenes of devastation were heart-wrenching: bloodied children, destroyed operating rooms, and dazed cancer patients connected to IVs being led to safety. This heinous attack was wrought by the sheer malevolence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, a detached President Joe Biden and his cautious national security team, led by Jake Sullivan, contributed to the conditions that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
While others may debate the political ramifications in the context of the upcoming November elections, our focus is on the present crisis. The Biden administration is inadvertently empowering Putin to achieve strategically in Washington and Brussels what he cannot on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. NATO leaders meeting in Washington today must change this self-defeating approach, with or without Biden’s full cooperation. A new, winning strategy is imperative.
In May, we called on the White House to adopt several transformative measures, including establishing a no-fly zone and authorizing the use of U.S.-made weapons against Russian military targets wherever they may be staging or launching attacks against Ukraine. The White House’s defensive policy of merely intercepting missiles has failed repeatedly. Undestroyed weapons platforms continue to launch attacks, and the incremental expansion of range restrictions on counterattacks only leads to the redeployment of these systems, providing Russian forces sanctuary as long as Biden’s restrictions remain.
Neither measure is likely to deter Putin, especially after a State Department official indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be told that Ukraine is still “too corrupt” to join NATO. This assertion is contradicted by recent Department of Defense and State Department inspector general reports, which suggest otherwise.
Was Biden in command when his administration decided to undermine Zelensky ahead of today’s NATO summit? Or was he too diminished? This is not the same president who in March 2022 boldly declared of Putin, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” Now, Biden and his administration appear to be maneuvering to hand Putin a victory in Ukraine under the pretext of avoiding escalation.
Biden was right before. Putin is too malevolent for Ukraine to be denied the protections of NATO membership. Putin’s history of weaponizing civilians and the environment, along with his use of assassination and disinformation, is well-documented.
We are beyond needing mere gamechangers. Biden must work with NATO members at today’s summit to decisively break Putin’s power in Ukraine, thereby destroying his capacity and will to continue the fight. The first and most obvious step is to affirm that Ukraine will inevitably become a full NATO member. This must be non-negotiable. Putin must understand that he cannot influence this outcome.
In light of the recent attacks, NATO must issue a statement today defining Ukraine’s accelerated path to full membership and reject any White House claims of Ukrainian corruption. Furthermore, NATO must remove all engagement rules preventing Ukrainian forces from striking deep into Russia as necessary to win the war and mitigate deliberate Russian attacks on civilians.
Ukraine needs the resources to win on the battlefield now, enabling its forces to conduct joint and combined arms warfare in Crimea. Biden has known Ukraine’s needs since last August. Although he rightly criticized Congress for delaying funding, the approved funds have yet to be fully delivered to Kyiv.
As Zelensky noted recently, 14 Ukrainian brigades lack basic equipment. “Slow deliveries” from NATO partners are hindering Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations, raising legitimate questions about Biden’s management of the war.
If Biden is truly in charge, now is the time for bold action. In addition to the above measures, he should announce today at the NATO summit that the U.S. will lead a coalition to implement an immediate multilayered no-fly zone in western Ukraine.
Putin’s attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital was a direct message to NATO. His renewed escalation against Ukrainian civilians aims to weaken NATO’s resolve to support Ukraine. It should have the opposite effect.
There must be no more escalation paralysis within NATO or in Washington. Russia is the enemy, and it is time to respond to its escalation in kind. Biden stands at a critical juncture in the Ukraine conflict. War requires continuous, committed leadership. He must lead boldly as commander-in-chief or step aside for someone who will. If he remains, a winning plan is essential. Otherwise, Biden should resign and allow another leader to guide NATO and the war effort in Ukraine.
Mark Toth writes on national security and foreign policy. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Sweet served 30 years as a military intelligence officer and led the U.S. European Command Intelligence Engagement Division from 2012 to 2014.
