For John Ismay's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
While the technology made by American and European companies has been turned against Ukraine, the situation has also given the U.S. and its allies a source of leverage against Russia.
Germany's announcement that it would send heavy weapons to Ukraine was one of among many signals that pointed to a further escalation in the war and a disappointment for diplomacy.
The U.S. not only wants to thwart the Russian invasion but also aims to weaken Russia so that it can no longer carry out such military aggression anywhere.
When Sergiy, 47, got out of bed Sunday morning in this small town in northeastern Ukraine, he discovered a chilling new hazard in a war filled with them: He had woken up in a minefield.
Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $2.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, according to the Pentagon, including a $200 million package in December.
