The Ukrainian military has the potential to become one of the United States’ most devoted and valuable long-term allies. While recent discussions have focused heavily on U.S.-Ukraine cooperation around rare earth minerals, this focus often overshadows Ukraine’s most significant current asset: its human capital, particularly its battle-hardened and highly capable armed forces.
As of 2025, Ukraine ranks sixth globally in terms of military size. Within Europe, it boasts the largest standing army—surpassing the combined personnel of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine's armed forces number 980,000, while independent estimates put the total military personnel closer to 2.2 million, with over 900,000 active-duty troops.
But Ukraine’s strength lies not only in numbers. It is the only democratic nation in modern times to engage in full-scale warfare against a vastly superior adversary using a comprehensive array of air, land, sea, and unmanned systems. Dozens of Ukraine's elite military units and special forces now specialize in drone warfare. These unmanned systems have played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s defense, having destroyed over 3,700 Russian tanks between 2022 and 2025—surpassing even the number of active battle tanks currently in the U.S. military (3,480).
Ukraine’s innovative naval drone strategies also decimated the Russian Black Sea Fleet, forcing the remaining vessels to withdraw to distant ports. This success is particularly striking given Russia’s overwhelming numerical advantages: a fivefold superiority in tanks, a naval fleet nearly five times the size of Ukraine’s, and an air force boasting over 4,000 aircraft compared to Ukraine’s 324. Russia, moreover, holds the world’s largest nuclear arsenal. And yet, these daunting figures have only steeled Ukrainian resolve, fueled by a deep sense of injustice.
Military experts widely agree that both Vladimir Putin and the Russian high command drastically underestimated Ukraine’s capabilities. Unfortunately, the same can be said of the Biden administration. Even The Atlantic, a pro-Democratic outlet, acknowledged this misjudgment:
“Meanwhile, the Ukrainians showed themselves to be far more resilient, adaptable, and willing to fight than the Biden administration had understood. At that point, the U.S. could have capitalized immensely on the Ukrainians’ spirited resistance and on Russian weakness.”
While the Biden administration has faced criticism for slow or cautious decision-making, former President Donald Trump—known for his bold and rapid actions—could have a unique opportunity to decisively shift the balance. With strong leadership and support from the White House, Ukraine could defeat Russian occupying forces, becoming a fiercely loyal and strategic U.S. ally. In the past, Ukraine joined American-led missions out of diplomatic respect. But if the U.S. helps Ukraine achieve the greatest military victory in Europe since World War II, that respect would be transformed into enduring, historic gratitude.
This would not be without precedent. Just as Ukrainians today fight for independence from an empire unwilling to relinquish control, Americans once battled the British Empire for their own freedom from 1775 to 1783. The French, led by Rear Admiral François Joseph Paul, played a crucial role in America’s eventual victory—most notably in the Battle of the Chesapeake, which enabled Washington's forces to triumph at Yorktown. The resulting American independence sparked a long-lasting alliance, with the U.S. later repaying that support during both World Wars, helping to liberate France in key battles from General Pershing’s campaigns to the D-Day landings.
Such partnerships are forged not from convenience but from shared sacrifice. They require moral clarity, courage, and the willingness to confront tyranny. The French-American alliance is a testament to how deep gratitude can form the basis of a powerful and enduring international relationship. Today, a similar moment has arrived in Europe. Americans and their leaders face a historic choice: to step forward in support of freedom or to retreat into isolation.
After the war, Ukraine will likely demobilize large portions of its military, but a strong, modern core will remain to deter future Russian aggression. Hundreds of thousands of seasoned Ukrainian veterans will return from the front, ready to apply their hard-won expertise. These veterans could become the backbone of a new European defense force—reducing the need for U.S. troop deployments in the region, or even forming a new multinational security alliance that aligns American and European interests while solidifying the U.S. strategic position.
In short, Ukraine offers the United States not just a partner in the current conflict, but a long-term, capable, and loyal military ally—one forged in battle, driven by democratic values, and ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with America in shaping the future of Europe and the wider world.
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